CIGNA 9-04 10QA

UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-Q/A
(Amendment No. 1)

[x] QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d)
OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the quarterly period ended September 30, 2004

OR

[ ] TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d)
OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

for the transition period from _____ to _____

Commission file number 1-8323

CIGNA Corporation
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Delaware
06-1059331
(State or other jurisdiction
(I.R.S. Employer
of incorporation or organization)
Identification No.)

One Liberty Place, 1650 Market Street
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19192
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)

Registrant's telephone number, including area code (215) 761-1000

Not Applicable
(Former name, former address and former fiscal year, if changed since last report)

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes x No _

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an accelerated filer (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes x No _ 

As of September 30, 2004, 134,252,295 shares of the issuer's common stock were outstanding.





Explanatory Note

CIGNA is filing this Amendment to Form 10-Q to reflect the restatement of its financial statements of its unaudited consolidated financial statements for the periods covered by this report. Please see Note 3 to the Financial Statements for specific information related to the restatement.

CIGNA historically accounted for stock option grants as fixed awards under Accounting Principles Board (APB) No. 25 and disclosed in the footnotes to the financial statements the expense based on the fair value of stock options pursuant to Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (SFAS) No. 123. While reviewing changes to its equity compensation plans and during the normal 2004 year-end closing process, CIGNA determined that certain stock option grants under these plans required variable rather than fixed accounting treatment under APB No. 25. Variable accounting should have been used because participants were permitted to elect to pay the option exercise price using restricted stock. As a result, CIGNA determined on February 7, 2005 the need to restate its financial statements included in the Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2003 and in each of the Form 10-Q filings for the three quarters ended September 30, 2004. CIGNA's management and the Audit Committee of CIGNA's Board of Directors discussed the restatement with CIGNA's independent registered public accounting firm.

This amended Form 10-Q/A does not attempt to modify or update any other disclosures set forth in the original Form 10-Q, except as required to reflect the effects of the restatement as described in Note 3 to the Financial Statements included in the amended Form 10-Q/A. Additionally, this amended Form 10-Q/A does not purport to provide a general update or discussion of any other developments at CIGNA after the date of the original filing. All information contained in this amended Form 10-Q/A and the original Form 10-Q is subject to updating and supplementing as provided in the periodic reports that CIGNA has filed and will file after the original filing date with the Securities and Exchange Commission. In addition, the filing of this amended Form 10-Q/A shall not be deemed an admission that the original filing, when made, included any untrue statement of material fact or omitted to state a material fact necessary to make a statement made therein not misleading. This amended Form 10-Q/A does not include the items from the original Form 10-Q that are not being amended.

Financial information included in reports on Form 10-K, Form 10-Q and Form 8-K (except the Form 8-K with the date of earliest event reported February 7, 2005) previously filed by CIGNA should not be relied upon and are superseded by the information in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q/A. CIGNA will also file amended quarterly reports on Form 10-Q/A for each of the first and second quarters of 2004 and an amended annual report on Form 10-K/A for the year ended December 31, 2003.

2



CIGNA CORPORATION
 
INDEX

The following Items of the original filing on Form 10-Q are amended as indicated by this Amendment on Form 10-Q/A:
 
   
Page No
PART I.
FINANCIAL INFORMATION
 
     
 
Item 1. Financial Statements
4
     
 
Consolidated Income Statements
5
 
Consolidated Balance Sheets
6
 
Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive
 
 
   Income and Changes in Shareholders' Equity
7
 
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
8
 
Notes to the Financial Statements
9
     
 
Item 2. Management's Discussion and Analysis
 
 
   of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
29
     
 
Item 4. Controls and Procedures
61
     
PART II.
OTHER INFORMATION
61
     
 
Item 6. Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K
61
     
SIGNATURE
 
62
     
EXHIBIT INDEX
E-1


As used herein, CIGNA refers to one or more of CIGNA Corporation and its consolidated subsidiaries.



3


Part I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION


Please note that the information contained in this Amendment, including the Consolidated Financial Statements and the Notes to the Financial Statements, does not reflect events occurring after the date of the original filing. Such events include, among others, the events subsequently described in our current reports on Form 8-K. For a description of these events, please read our Exchange Act reports filed since the filing of the Original Form 10-Q.

Item 1. Financial Statements


4



CIGNA CORPORATION
                 
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
                 
(In millions, except per share amounts)
                 
   
Three Months Ended
 
Nine Months Ended
 
   
September 30,
 
September 30,
 
   
2004
 
2003
 
2004
 
2003
 
 
 
(As Restated, See Note 3)
 
(As Restated, See Note 3)  
 
REVENUES
                 
Premiums and fees
 
$
3,615
 
$
3,841
 
$
10,746
 
$
11,615
 
Net investment income
   
340
   
623
   
1,298
   
1,949
 
Other revenues
   
513
   
260
   
1,343
   
616
 
Realized investment gains
   
11
   
49
   
447
   
127
 
    Total revenues
   
4,479
   
4,773
   
13,834
   
14,307
 
                           
BENEFITS, LOSSES AND EXPENSES
                         
Benefits, losses and settlement expenses
   
2,617
   
3,020
   
8,066
   
9,599
 
Policy acquisition expenses
   
56
   
66
   
181
   
186
 
Other operating expenses
   
1,305
   
1,406
   
4,025
   
4,040
 
    Total benefits, losses and expenses
   
3,978
   
4,492
   
12,272
   
13,825
 
                           
INCOME FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS
                         
BEFORE INCOME TAXES
   
501
   
281
   
1,562
   
482
 
                           
Income taxes (benefits):
                         
      Current
   
58
   
93
   
649
   
85
 
      Deferred
   
131
   
(7
)
 
(104
)
 
70
 
    Total taxes
   
189
   
86
   
545
   
155
 
                           
INCOME FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS
   
312
   
195
   
1,017
   
327
 
                           
INCOME FROM DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS
   
-
   
-
   
-
   
48
 
                           
INCOME BEFORE CUMULATIVE EFFECT
                         
    OF ACCOUNTING CHANGE
   
312
   
195
   
1,017
   
375
 
                           
CUMULATIVE EFFECT OF ACCOUNTING CHANGE,
                         
    NET OF TAXES
   
-
   
-
   
(139
)
 
-
 
                           
NET INCOME
 
$
312
 
$
195
 
$
878
 
$
375
 
                           
                           
EARNINGS PER SHARE - BASIC
                         
                           
INCOME FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS
 
$
2.31
 
$
1.40
 
$
7.38
 
$
2.34
 
INCOME FROM DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS
   
-
   
-
   
-
   
0.34
 
                           
INCOME BEFORE CUMULATIVE EFFECT
                         
    OF ACCOUNTING CHANGE
   
2.31
   
1.40
   
7.38
   
2.68
 
                           
CUMULATIVE EFFECT OF ACCOUNTING CHANGE,
                         
    NET OF TAXES
   
-
   
-
   
(1.01
)
 
-
 
                           
    NET INCOME
 
$
2.31
 
$
1.40
 
$
6.37
 
$
2.68
 
                           
EARNINGS PER SHARE - DILUTED
                         
                           
INCOME FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS
 
$
2.29
 
$
1.39
 
$
7.29
 
$
2.33
 
INCOME FROM DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS
   
-
   
-
   
-
   
0.34
 
                           
INCOME BEFORE CUMULATIVE EFFECT
                         
    OF ACCOUNTING CHANGE
   
2.29
   
1.39
   
7.29
   
2.67
 
                           
CUMULATIVE EFFECT OF ACCOUNTING CHANGE,
                         
    NET OF TAXES
   
-
   
-
   
(0.99
)
 
-
 
                           
    NET INCOME
 
$
2.29
 
$
1.39
 
$
6.30
 
$
2.67
 
                           
                           
DIVIDENDS DECLARED PER SHARE
 
$
0.025
 
$
0.330
 
$
0.380
 
$
0.990
 
                           
The accompanying Notes to the Financial Statements are an integral part of these statements. 
                   


5



CIGNA CORPORATION
                  
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
                  
(In millions, except per share amounts)
                  
       
As of
      
As of
 
       
September 30,
      
December 31,
 
       
2004
      
2003
 
 
   
     (As Restated, See Note 3)
 
ASSETS
                  
Investments:
                  
   Fixed maturities, at fair value (amortized cost, $15,499; $15,772)
       
$
16,605
       
$
17,121
 
   Securities supporting experience-rated pension policyholder
                         
   contracts, at fair value (amortized cost, $-; $10,558)
         
-
         
11,222
 
   Equity securities, at fair value (cost, $80; $47)
         
114
         
78
 
   Mortgage loans
         
3,627
         
8,655
 
   Policy loans
         
1,589
         
1,572
 
   Real estate
         
71
         
146
 
   Other long-term investments
         
427
         
717
 
   Short-term investments
         
112
         
147
 
    Total investments
         
22,545
         
39,658
 
Cash and cash equivalents
         
2,925
         
1,392
 
Accrued investment income
         
295
         
468
 
Premiums, accounts and notes receivable
         
2,701
         
3,026
 
Reinsurance recoverables
         
19,650
         
6,395
 
Deferred policy acquisition costs
         
505
         
580
 
Property and equipment
         
816
         
973
 
Deferred income taxes
         
1,381
         
1,040
 
Goodwill
         
1,620
         
1,620
 
Other assets, including other intangibles
         
395
         
447
 
Separate account assets
         
36,040
         
35,393
 
                           
    Total assets
       
$
88,873
       
$
90,992
 
                           
LIABILITIES
                         
Contactholder deposit funds
       
$
24,052
       
$
26,979
 
Unpaid claims and claim expenses
         
4,226
         
4,708
 
Future policy benefits
         
11,457
         
11,545
 
Unearned premiums
         
385
         
326
 
    Total insurance and contractholder liabilities
         
40,120
         
43,558
 
Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities
         
6,565
         
5,960
 
Long-term debt
         
1,438
         
1,500
 
Nonrecourse obligations
         
53
         
23
 
Separate account liabilities
         
36,040
         
35,393
 
    Total liabilities
         
84,216
         
86,434
 
           
         
 
CONTINGENCIES - NOTE 13
                         
                           
SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
                         
Common stock (par value per share, $0.25; shares issued, 276; 275)
         
69
         
69
 
Additional paid-in capital
         
3,698
         
3,597
 
Net unrealized appreciation, fixed maturities
 
$
417
       
$
610
       
Net unrealized appreciation, equity securities
   
18
         
29
       
Net unrealized depreciation, derivatives
   
(3
)
       
(12
)
     
Net translation of foreign currencies
   
(13
)
       
(14
)
     
Minimum pension liability adjustment
   
(798
)
       
(667
)
     
   Accumulated other comprehensive loss
         
(379
)
       
(54
)
Retained earnings
         
10,327
         
9,503
 
Less treasury stock, at cost
         
(9,058
)
       
(8,557
)
    Total shareholders' equity
         
4,657
         
4,558
 
                           
    Total liabilities and shareholders' equity
       
$
88,873
       
$
90,992
 
                           
SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY PER SHARE
       
$
34.69
       
$
32.42
 
                           
The accompanying Notes to the Financial Statements are an integral part of these statements.
                   
 
6



CIGNA CORPORATION
                   
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME AND CHANGES IN
               
   SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
                   
(In millions)
                   
                     
Three Months Ended September 30,
 
2004   
 
 2003
 
   
Compre-
hensive
Income
 
 Share-
holders'
Equity
 
 Compre-
hensive
Income
 
Share-
holders'
Equity
 
 
 
(As Restated, See Note 3)   
 
(As Restated, See Note 3)  
 
Common stock, July 1
       
$
69
       
$
68
 
   Issuance of common stock for employee benefits plans
         
-
         
1
 
Common stock, September 30
         
69
         
69
 
                           
Additional paid-in capital, July 1
         
3,687
         
3,541
 
   Issuance of common stock for employee benefits plans
         
11
         
17
 
Additional paid-in capital, September 30
         
3,698
         
3,558
 
                           
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), July 1
         
(597
)
       
50
 
Net unrealized appreciation (depreciation), fixed maturities
 
$
198
   
198
 
$
(99
)
 
(99
)
Net unrealized depreciation, equity securities
   
(7
)
 
(7
)
 
(20
)
 
(20
)
      Net unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on securities
   
191
         
(119
)
     
Net unrealized appreciation (depreciation), derivatives
   
3
   
3
   
(4
)
 
(4
)
Net translation of foreign currencies
   
3
   
3
   
(4
)
 
(4
)
Minimum pension liability adjustment
   
21
   
21
   
-
   
-
 
    Other comprehensive income (loss)
   
218
         
(127
)
     
Accumulated other comprehensive loss, September 30
         
(379
)
       
(77
)
                           
Retained earnings, July 1
         
10,019
         
9,126
 
   Net income
   
312
   
312
   
195
   
195
 
   Common dividends declared
         
(4
)
       
(47
)
Retained earnings, September 30
         
10,327
         
9,274
 
                           
Treasury stock, July 1
         
(8,856
)
       
(8,543
)
   Repurchase of common stock
         
(210
)
       
-
 
   Other treasury stock transactions, net
         
8
         
(15
)
Treasury stock, September 30
         
(9,058
)
       
(8,558
)
TOTAL COMPREHENSIVE INCOME AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
 
$
530
 
$
4,657
 
$
68
 
$
4,266
 
                           
                           
Nine Months Ended September 30,
                         
                           
Common stock, January 1
       
$
69
       
$
68
 
Issuance of common stock for employee benefits plans
         
-
         
1
 
Common stock, September 30
         
69
         
69
 
                           
Additional paid-in capital, January 1
         
3,597
         
3,503
 
Issuance of common stock for employee benefits plans
         
101
         
55
 
Additional paid-in capital, September 30
         
3,698
         
3,558
 
                           
Accumulated other comprehensive loss, January 1
         
(54
)
       
(202
)
Net unrealized appreciation (depreciation), fixed maturities
 
$
(193
)
 
(193
)
$
155
   
155
 
Net unrealized depreciation, equity securities
   
(11
)
 
(11
)
 
(24
)
 
(24
)
Net unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on securities
   
(204
)
       
131
       
Net unrealized appreciation (depreciation), derivatives
   
9
   
9
   
(9
)
 
(9
)
Net translation of foreign currencies
   
1
   
1
   
16
   
16
 
Minimum pension liability adjustment
   
(131
)
 
(131
)
 
(13
)
 
(13
)
Other comprehensive income (loss)
   
(325
)
       
125
       
Accumulated other comprehensive loss, September 30
         
(379
)
       
(77
)
                           
Retained earnings, January 1
         
9,503
         
9,038
 
Net income
   
878
   
878
   
375
   
375
 
Common dividends declared
         
(54
)
       
(139
)
Retained earnings, September 30
         
10,327
         
9,274
 
                           
Treasury stock, January 1
         
(8,557
)
       
(8,510
)
Repurchase of common stock
         
(494
)
       
-
 
Other treasury stock transactions, net
         
(7
)
       
(48
)
Treasury stock, September 30
         
(9,058
)
       
(8,558
)
TOTAL COMPREHENSIVE INCOME AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
 
$
553
 
$
4,657
 
$
500
 
$
4,266
 
                           
The accompanying Notes to the Financial Statements are an integral part of these statements.    
                   
 
7



CIGNA CORPORATION
         
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
         
(In millions)
         
   
Nine Months Ended September 30,
 
   
2004
 
2003
 
 
 
(As Restated, See Note 3) 
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES
         
Income from continuing operations
 
$
1,017
 
$
327
 
Adjustments to reconcile income from continuing operations
             
      to net cash provided by operating activities:
             
    Insurance liabilities
   
(601
)
 
13
 
    Reinsurance recoverables
   
127
   
198
 
    Deferred policy acquisition costs
   
(72
)
 
(49
)
    Premiums, accounts and notes receivable
   
309
   
75
 
    Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities
   
(203
)
 
(346
)
    Current income taxes
   
98
   
405
 
    Deferred income taxes
   
(104
)
 
70
 
    Realized investment (gains)
   
(447
)
 
(127
)
    Depreciation and amortization
   
174
   
187
 
    Gains on sales of businesses (excluding discontinued operations)
   
(239
)
 
(57
)
    Proceeds from sales and maturities of securities supporting
             
       experience-rated pension policyholder contracts,
             
       net of purchases
   
1,039
   
-
 
    Other, net
   
83
   
145
 
       Net cash provided by operating activities of continuing operations
   
1,181
   
841
 
               
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES
             
Proceeds from investments sold:
             
    Fixed maturities
   
2,245
   
5,815
 
    Equity securities
   
62
   
282
 
    Mortgage loans
   
64
   
641
 
    Other (primarily short-term investments)
   
5,803
   
5,334
 
Investment maturities and repayments:
             
    Fixed maturities
   
655
   
1,915
 
    Mortgage loans
   
662
   
922
 
Investments purchased:
             
    Fixed maturities
   
(3,624
)
 
(8,516
)
    Equity securities
   
(14
)
 
(54
)
    Mortgage loans
   
(668
)
 
(1,442
)
    Other (primarily short-term investments)
   
(5,575
)
 
(4,883
)
Proceeds from sale of businesses
   
2,103
   
227
 
Property and equipment, net
   
(32
)
 
(67
)
Other, net
   
(24
)
 
(16
)
    Net cash provided by investing activities of continuing operations
   
1,657
   
158
 
               
               
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES
             
    Deposits and interest credited to contractholder deposit funds
   
2,235
   
5,878
 
    Withdrawals and benefit payments from contractholder deposit funds
   
(2,908
)
 
(6,222
)
    Net change in short-term debt
   
-
   
(3
)
    Repayment of long-term debt
   
(76
)
 
(127
)
    Repurchase common stock
   
(526
)
 
-
 
    Issuance of common stock
   
24
   
-
 
    Common dividends paid
   
(54
)
 
(139
)
    Net cash used in financing activities of continuing operations
   
(1,305
)
 
(613
)
               
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents
   
1,533
   
386
 
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period
   
1,392
   
1,575
 
               
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period
 
$
2,925
 
$
1,961
 
               
Supplemental Disclosure of Cash Information:
             
    Income taxes paid (received), net
 
$
543
 
$
(326
)
    Interest paid
 
$
79
 
$
83
 
               
The accompanying Notes to the Financial Statements are an integral part of these statements.
             


8


CIGNA CORPORATION
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

NOTE 1 - BASIS OF PRESENTATION

The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of CIGNA Corporation, its significant subsidiaries, and variable interest entities of which CIGNA is the primary beneficiary, which are referred to collectively as “CIGNA.” Intercompany transactions and accounts have been eliminated in consolidation. These consolidated financial statements were prepared in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States.

The interim financial statements are unaudited but include all adjustments (including normal recurring adjustments) necessary, in the opinion of management, for a fair statement of financial position and results of operations for the period reported. The interim consolidated financial statements and notes should be read in conjunction with the Consolidated Financial Statements and Notes in CIGNA’s 2003 Annual Report to Shareholders and Form 10-K and as further amended on the Form 10-K/A filed for the year ended 2003.

The preparation of interim financial statements necessarily relies heavily on estimates. This and certain other factors, such as the seasonal nature of portions of the insurance business as well as competitive and other market conditions, call for caution in estimating full year results based on interim results of operations. In the second quarter of 2004, CIGNA sold its retirement benefits business. See Note 4 regarding this sale.

Certain reclassifications have been made to prior period amounts to conform to the 2004 presentation.

NOTE 2 - RECENT ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS

Derivative Instruments. In April 2003, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued an amendment and finalized an implementation issue related to Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 133, “Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities” (SFAS 133). Implementation of the SFAS 133 amendment and the implementation issue in the third quarter of 2003 had no material effect on CIGNA’s financial statements.

As permitted by the implementation issue and the Statement of Position (SOP) described below, CIGNA reclassified securities supporting experience-rated pension policyholder contracts associated with its retirement benefits business to trading in the fourth quarter of 2003, and reported these securities in a separate balance sheet caption until the sale of the retirement benefits business on April 1, 2004. Under the experience-rating process, unrealized gains and losses recognized for these securities accrued to policyholders. Accordingly, the reclassification did not affect CIGNA's net income.

Long-Duration Contracts.  Effective January 1, 2004, CIGNA implemented SOP 03-1, “Accounting and Reporting by Insurance Enterprises for Certain Nontraditional Long-Duration Contracts and for Separate Accounts.”

The SOP addresses accounting for certain contractual features of investment-related and universal life contracts and for separate accounts. The cumulative effect of implementing the SOP in the first quarter of 2004 was a reduction to net income of $139 million, of which $136 million resulted from recording liabilities for certain experience-rated pension policyholder contracts based on the appreciated value of associated pools of investments, primarily mortgage loans and real estate. CIGNA recorded additional benefits expense of $17 million pre-tax ($11 million after-tax) in the first quarter of 2004 to reflect the post-implementation effect of this accounting requirement. The sale of CIGNA's retirement benefits business generally resulted in the transfer to the buyer of the pool of investments and securities supporting experience-rated pension policyholder contracts discussed above. See Note 4 for information about this sale.

The remaining cumulative effect resulted from implementing the SOP’s requirements applicable to universal life contracts. CIGNA’s accounting for reinsurance of guaranteed minimum death benefit contracts and guaranteed minimum income benefit contracts was not affected by the provisions of the SOP.
 

9



Consolidation. On March 31, 2004, CIGNA implemented FASB Interpretation No. 46, “Consolidation of Variable Interest Entities,” as revised, that provides criteria for consolidating certain entities based on majority ownership of expected losses or residual returns. At implementation, CIGNA recorded additional assets and liabilities, primarily associated with real estate joint ventures, of $98 million each, including $83 million of nonrecourse liabilities.

At September 30, 2004, CIGNA had consolidated real estate joint venture assets of $74 million, primarily real estate investments and cash and cash equivalents, and liabilities of $52 million including: $13 million of variable rate debt due by 2008, $32 million of nonrecourse obligations and $7 million of other liabilities.

At September 30, 2004, CIGNA had consolidated amounts associated with certain variable interest entities that issue investment products secured by commercial loan pools as follows: investments of $145 million, primarily fixed maturities and other long-term investments, and nonrecourse liabilities of $37 million, including $21 million of nonrecourse obligations and $16 million of other nonrecourse liabilities.

At December 31, 2003, CIGNA had recorded variable interest entities as follows: real estate joint ventures with assets of $20 million and nonrecourse liabilities of $5 million and, for entities that issue investment products secured by commercial loan pools, assets of $215 million and nonrecourse liabilities of $40 million, including $23 million of nonrecourse obligations and $17 million of other nonrecourse liabilities.

Other Postretirement Benefits. See Note 7 for a discussion of the effects of the Medicare Prescription Drug Improvement and Modernization Act of 2003.

Other-Than-Temporary Impairment. In 2004, the FASB Emerging Issues Task Force provided guidance on evaluating fixed maturities and equity securities for other-than-temporary impairment, including the timing and measurement of impairment for interest-related declines in value. Because this guidance is subject to interpretation by the FASB, CIGNA is currently unable to estimate its implementation effect. Under the final interpretation of this guidance, CIGNA may recognize other-than-temporary impairments of fixed maturities and equity securities through realized investment losses that may be material to CIGNA's net income. CIGNA does not expect any such impairments to impact shareholders’ equity because unrealized depreciation on fixed maturities and equity securities is included in shareholders' equity. See Note 8 for a review of declines in fair value of fixed maturities and equity securities.

10

 
NOTE 3 - RESTATEMENT - STOCK COMPENSATION

Restatement. During a review of CIGNA’s equity compensation plans it was determined that certain stock option grants under these plans required variable accounting rather than fixed accounting treatment under Accounting Principles Board (APB) No. 25. CIGNA previously accounted for these stock option grants as fixed awards under APB No. 25. Variable accounting should have been used because participants were permitted to elect to pay the option exercise price using restricted stock. As a result, CIGNA recorded additional stock-based compensation under the variable method of accounting and associated income tax adjustments.

A summary of the significant effects of restatement is as follows:

           
Three Months Ended
   September 30
 
2004
 
2003
 
(In millions)
 
As
Reported
 
As
Restated
 
As
Reported
 
As
Restated
 
Other Operating Expenses
   $
1,292
   $
1,305
   $
1,406
   $
1,406
 
Income from
   Continuing Operations
   $
320
   $
312
   $
195
   $
195
 
Net Income
   $
320
   $
312
   $
195
   $
195
 
Income from
   Continuing Operations
   per share
                         
      Basic
   $
2.37
   $
2.31
   $
1.40
   $
1.40
 
      Diluted
   $
2.34
   $
2.29
   $
1.39
   $
1.39
 
Net Income per share
                         
      Basic
   $
2.37
   $
2.31
   $
1.40
   $
1.40
 
      Diluted
   $
2.34
   $
2.29
   $
1.39
   $
1.39
 

           
Nine Months Ended
   September 30
 
2004
 
2003
 
(In millions)
 
As
Reported
 
As
Restated
 
As
Reported
 
As
Restated
 
Other Operating Expenses
   $
3,970
   $
4,025
   $
4,036
   $
4,040
 
Income from
   Continuing Operations
   $
1,052
   $
1,017
   $
330
   $
327
 
Net Income
   $
913
   $
878
   $
378
   $
375
 
Income from
   Continuing Operations
   per share
                         
      Basic
   $
7.63
   $
7.38
   $
2.36
   $
2.34
 
      Diluted
   $
7.55
   $
7.29
   $
2.35
   $
2.33
 
Net Income per share
                         
      Basic
   $
6.62
   $
6.37
   $
2.71
   $
2.68
 
      Diluted
   $
6.55
   $
6.30
   $
2.69
   $
2.67
 
 
           
   
As of
September 30, 2004
 
As of
December 31, 2003
 
(In millions)
 
As
Reported
 
As
Restated
 
As
Reported
 
As
Restated
 
Deferred Tax Asset
 
$
1,326
 
$
1,381
 
$
1,001
 
$
1,040
 
Shareholders’ Equity
 
$
4,602
 
$
4,657
 
$
4,519
 
$
4,558
 
 
Stock compensation. CIGNA uses the intrinsic value method of accounting for stock options granted to employees. The following table illustrates the effect on CIGNA’s reported net income and earnings per share (using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model for stock options) if compensation expense was based on the fair value method of accounting for all stock awards.

11



           
(In millions,
 
Three Months
Ended
September 30,
 
Nine Months
Ended
September 30,
 
except per share amounts)
 
2004
 
2003
 
2004
 
2003
 
   
(As Restated)
 
Net income as reported
 
$
312
 
$
195
 
$
878
 
$
375
 
Compensation expense
   for restricted stock grants,
   net of taxes,
   included in net income as
   reported
   
2
   
4
   
3
   
8
 
Compensation expense for
   stock options, net of
   taxes, included in net
   income as reported
   
8
   
   
35
   
3
 
Total compensation
   expense for stock
   options and restricted
   stock grants under
   fair value method for all
   awards, net of taxes
   
(14
)
 
(13
)
 
(36
)
 
(35
)
Pro forma net income
 
$
308
 
$
186
 
$
880
 
$
351
 
Basic - as reported
 
$
2.31
 
$
1.40
 
$
6.37
 
$
2.68
 
Basic - pro forma
 
$
2.28
 
$
1.33
 
$
6.38
 
$
2.51
 
Diluted - as reported
 
$
2.29
 
$
1.39
 
$
6.30
 
$
2.67
 
Diluted - pro forma
 
$
2.20
 
$
1.32
 
$
6.32
 
$
2.50
 

NOTE 4 - ACQUISITIONS AND DISPOSITIONS

CIGNA may from time to time acquire or dispose of assets, subsidiaries or lines of business. Significant transactions are described below.

Sale of Retirement Benefits Business. On April 1, 2004, CIGNA sold its retirement benefits business, excluding the corporate life insurance business, for cash proceeds of $2.1 billion. The sale resulted in an after-tax gain of $809 million, of which $267 million after-tax was recognized immediately. Of this amount, $259 million after-tax was recorded in realized investment gains and $8 million after-tax was recorded in other revenues.

As this transaction was primarily in the form of a reinsurance arrangement, $542 million of the after-tax gain was deferred and will be amortized over future periods at the rate that earnings from the sold business would have been expected to emerge (primarily over 15 years on a declining basis). CIGNA recognized normal gain amortization of $28 million pre-tax ($18 million after-tax) for the third quarter and $57 million pre-tax ($37 million after-tax) for the nine months of 2004 in other revenues in the Run-off Retirement segment. The sales agreement provides for post-closing adjustments; however, any future adjustments are not expected to be material to CIGNA's consolidated results of operations, liquidity or financial condition.
 
During the second and third quarters of 2004, the buyer of the retirement benefits business entered into agreements with some of the insured parties, relieving CIGNA of any remaining contractual obligations to those parties. As such agreements were entered into, CIGNA accelerated recognition of the deferred gain in other revenues by $122 million pre-tax ($79 million after-tax) for the third quarter and $126 million pre-tax ($82 million after-tax) for the nine months of 2004. CIGNA also reduced reinsurance recoverables, contractholder deposit funds and separate account balances for these obligations.

Upon closing the sale, CIGNA reinsured $16.0 billion of contractholder liabilities under an indemnity reinsurance arrangement and $35.3 billion of insurance, contractholder and separate account liabilities under modified coinsurance arrangements, including $32.0 billion in separate account liabilities. CIGNA also transferred $17.3 billion of invested assets along with other assets and liabilities.

12



At September 30, 2004, CIGNA had approximately $3.2 billion of invested assets, primarily fixed maturities and mortgage loans, supporting certain modified coinsurance arrangements with the buyer, of which $2.0 billion was held in a business trust established by CIGNA. CIGNA pays or receives cash quarterly to settle the results of the reinsured business, including the investment results of the assets underlying modified coinsurance arrangements. As a result of these modified coinsurance arrangements, CIGNA has embedded derivatives that transfer to the buyer certain unrealized changes in fair value due to interest rate and credit risks of these assets. CIGNA records these effects in other liabilities and other revenues. Decreases or significant increases in interest rates or credit risks could result in material volatility in CIGNA's consolidated net income into 2006. In the third quarter of 2004, CIGNA recorded a pre-tax charge for these effects of $14 million in other revenues. For the nine months of 2004, other revenues included a pre-tax benefit of $27 million for these effects and a related pre-tax charge of $41 million reflecting the amortization for the period of the excess of the fair value of related assets over the liabilities under these arrangements.

The modified coinsurance arrangement supported by the $2.0 billion business trust provides for conversion to an indemnity reinsurance structure. The buyer will assume ownership of the trust assets in 2006 unless the buyer elects termination, in which case CIGNA would retain the trust assets and the insurance liabilities. In the second quarter of 2004, CIGNA reclassified unrealized appreciation of $166 million after-tax from shareholders' equity to other liabilities for this modified coinsurance arrangement.

See Note 11 for additional information.

Sale of investment advisory businesses. During the fourth quarter of 2004, CIGNA sold its fixed income investment advisory business and is expected to complete the sale of its equity investment advisory business. As a result in the fourth quarter of 2004, CIGNA expects to record an estimated after-tax gain of $15 million in the Other Operations segment.

Sale of Japanese pension operations. In the third quarter of 2003, CIGNA sold its interest in a Japanese pension operation for cash proceeds of $18 million and recognized an after-tax gain of $5 million. The gain was reported in the International segment in continuing operations since this operation was accounted for under the equity method of accounting.

Sale of Lovelace Health Systems, Inc. In the first quarter of 2003, CIGNA sold the operations of Lovelace, an integrated health care system, for cash proceeds of $209 million and recognized an after-tax gain of $32 million, which is reported in discontinued operations.

Sale of Brazilian Health Care Operations. In the first quarter of 2003, CIGNA sold its Brazilian health care operations. The sale generated an after-tax gain of $18 million, primarily as a result of the disposition of the net liabilities associated with these operations. The gain is reported in discontinued operations.

13



Lovelace and Brazilian Health Care Discontinued Operations. Summarized financial data for discontinued operations (which includes Lovelace and the gain on the sale of the Brazilian health care operations) are outlined below:

       
FINANCIAL SUMMARY
 
 
(In millions)
 
Nine Months
Ended
September 30,  2003
 
Income Statement Data
     
Revenues
 
$
 
Loss before income tax benefits
 
$
(3
)
Income tax benefits
   
(1
)
Loss from operations
   
(2
)
Gains on sales, net of taxes of $25
   
50
 
Income from discontinued operations
 
$
48
 

NOTE 5 - RESTRUCTURING PROGRAMS

Operational effectiveness review. In the first quarter of 2004, CIGNA adopted a restructuring program associated with planned organizational changes to streamline functional support resources and to adjust its operations to current business volumes. As a result, CIGNA recognized in other operating expenses a total after-tax charge of $49 million ($75 million pre-tax) primarily in the Health Care segment and Corporate, mostly for severance costs.

In the second and third quarters of 2004, CIGNA recorded additional charges under this review for severance costs and costs associated with vacating certain leased facilities (see table below).

The table below shows CIGNA’s restructuring activity (pre-tax) related to severance and real estate for this program:

               
(In millions)
 
Health
Care/
Disability
 and Life*
 
Corporate
 
Total
 
First quarter 2004 charge:
             
   Severance
 
$
39
 
$
31
 
$
70
 
   Real estate and other
   
5
   
   
5
 
      Total
   
44
   
31
   
75
 
First quarter 2004 payments:
                   
   Severance
   
(2
)
 
(4
)
 
(6
)
Balance as of March 31, 2004
   
42
   
27
   
69
 
Second quarter 2004 charge:
                   
   Severance
   
   
4
   
4
 
   Real estate and other
   
3
   
   
3
 
      Total
   
3
   
4
   
7
 
Second quarter 2004 payments:
           
   Severance
   
(10
)
 
(8
)
 
(18
)
   Real estate and other
   
(1
)
 
   
(1
)
Balance as of June 30, 2004
   
34
   
23
   
57
 
Third quarter 2004 charge:
                   
   Real estate and other
   
3
   
1
   
4
 
Third quarter 2004 payments:
                   
   Severance
   
(7
)
 
(8
)
 
(15
)
   Real estate and other
   
(1
)
 
   
(1
)
Balance as of
   September 30, 2004
 
$
29
 
$
16
 
$
45
 

Corporate effectiveness initiative. In the second quarter of 2003, CIGNA adopted a restructuring program to attain certain operational efficiencies in its corporate staff functions and to achieve additional cost savings. As a result, CIGNA recognized in other operating expenses an after-tax charge in Corporate of $9 million ($13 million pre-tax) for severance costs. As of June 30, 2004, this program was substantially completed.
______________
* Includes first quarter 2004 restructuring charges of $2 million pre-tax in the Disability and Life segment.

14

 
NOTE 6 - GUARANTEED MINIMUM DEATH BENEFIT AND INCOME BENEFIT CONTRACTS

CIGNA’s reinsurance operations, which were discontinued in 2000 and are now an inactive business in run-off mode, reinsured a guaranteed minimum death benefit under certain variable annuities issued by other insurance companies. These variable annuities are essentially investments in mutual funds combined with a death benefit. CIGNA has equity market exposures as a result of this product.

As a result of equity market declines and volatility early in the third quarter of 2002, CIGNA evaluated alternatives for addressing the exposures associated with these reinsurance contracts, considering the possibility of continued depressed equity market conditions, the potential effects of further equity market declines and the impact on future earnings and capital. As a result of this evaluation, CIGNA implemented a program to substantially reduce the equity market exposures of this business by selling exchange-traded futures contracts, which are expected to rise in value as the equity market declines and decline in value as the equity market rises. In the second quarter of 2003, CIGNA began using foreign-denominated, exchange-traded futures contracts and foreign currency forward contracts to reduce international equity market risks associated with this business.

CIGNA expects to adjust the futures and forward contract positions and may enter into other contract positions over time, to reflect changing equity market levels and changes in the investment mix of the underlying variable annuity investments. For further information and details on these contracts and the program adopted to reduce related equity market risk, refer to Note 5 of CIGNA's 2003 Annual Report to Shareholders.

The determination of reserves for guaranteed minimum death benefits requires CIGNA to make critical accounting estimates. CIGNA describes the assumptions used to develop the reserves for these death benefits, and provides the effects of hypothetical changes in those assumptions on page 13 of CIGNA’s 2003 Annual Report to Shareholders as restated. CIGNA regularly evaluates the assumptions used in establishing reserves and changes its estimates if actual experience or other evidence suggests that earlier assumptions should be revised. If actual experience differs from the assumptions and other considerations (including lapse, partial surrender, mortality, interest rates and volatility) used in estimating these reserves, the resulting change could have a material adverse effect on CIGNA’s consolidated results of operations, and in certain situations, could have a material adverse effect on CIGNA’s financial condition. During the third quarter of 2004, CIGNA completed its normal quarterly review of assumptions and emerging experience and recorded a net after-tax charge of $1 million.

In the second quarter of 2003, CIGNA recognized an after-tax charge to increase reserves related to these guaranteed minimum death benefit contracts of $286 million ($441 million pre-tax) following an analysis of experience and reserve assumptions relating to these reserves.

Prior to the second quarter of 2003, CIGNA's experience of partial surrenders under its guaranteed minimum death benefit contracts was not sufficient to support an explicit reserve assumption. Separately, from mid-2002 through the first quarter of 2003, CIGNA experienced continued adverse mortality development under these contracts. During the second quarter of 2003, CIGNA conducted a special review of the emerging partial surrender activity to determine if sufficient credible data existed for an explicit reserve assumption. The review also included a detailed study of other reserve assumptions, including mortality, to validate the cause of the adverse experience and to determine whether or not long-term mortality expectations should be changed.

As a result of the review, CIGNA recorded the after-tax charge of $286 million referenced above consisting of the following:

·  
$169 million for the addition of an explicit assumption for both actual and projected future partial surrenders. This estimate is based on annual election rates that vary depending on the net amount at risk for each policy (see below for more information);
·  
$56 million primarily reflecting refinements to assumptions relating to the timing of lapses, death benefits and premiums to better reflect CIGNA's experience;

15



·  
$39 million due to higher assumed mortality reflecting adverse experience based on annuitant deaths during the period from late 2000 into 2003; and
·  
$22 million resulting from a decrease in assumed mean investment performance reflecting experience and future expectations based on history for similar investments and considering CIGNA's program to reduce equity market exposures.

In the third quarter of 2002, CIGNA recognized an after-tax charge of $720 million ($1.1 billion pre-tax) to strengthen reserves related to these guaranteed minimum death benefit contracts and to adopt the program described above to substantially reduce equity market risks related to these contracts.

The $720 million after-tax charge consisted of:

·  
$580 million, reflecting the reduction in assumed future equity market returns as a result of implementing the program. CIGNA determines liabilities under the reinsurance contracts using an assumption for expected future performance of equity markets. A consequence of implementing the program is, effectively, a reduction in the assumption for expected future performance of equity markets, as the futures contracts essentially eliminate the opportunity to achieve previously expected market returns;

·  
$100 million, reflecting deterioration in equity markets that occurred in the third quarter of 2002 (prior to implementation of the program); and

·  
$40 million, driven by changes for the following:
·  
lower assumed lapse rates based on expectations that lower surrenders will occur due to increased death benefits resulting from stock market declines;
·  
higher assumed mortality based on experience since mid-2001;
·  
higher assumed market volatility, based on recent experience and expected higher S&P 500 volatility; and
·  
a lower assumed discount rate to reflect anticipated funding of the reserve increase at yields lower than the existing assumption.

CIGNA had future policy benefit reserves for these guaranteed minimum death benefit contracts of approximately $1.1 billion as of September 30, 2004 and $1.2 billion as of December 31, 2003. Benefits incurred, net of ceded amounts, were $62 million for the third quarter and $78 million for the nine months of 2004 compared with $(24) million for the third quarter and $241 million for the nine months of 2003. Benefits paid, net of ceded amounts, were $40 million for the third quarter and $119 million for the nine months of 2004, compared with $67 million for the third quarter and $241 million for the nine months of 2003.

CIGNA recorded in other revenues a pre-tax gain of $33 million for the third quarter and pre-tax losses of $27 million for the nine months of 2004, and pre-tax losses of $70 million for the third quarter and $326 million for the nine months of 2003 from the futures and forward contracts. Expense offsets reflecting corresponding changes in liabilities for these guaranteed minimum death benefit contracts were included in benefits, losses and settlement expenses. The notional or face amount of the futures and forward contract positions held by CIGNA at September 30, 2004, was $1.6 billion.

As of September 30, 2004, the aggregate fair value of the underlying mutual fund investments was approximately $44.3 billion. The death benefit coverage in force as of that date (representing the amount that CIGNA would have to pay if all 1.2 million contractholders had died on that date) was approximately $11.6 billion. The death benefit coverage in force represents the excess of the guaranteed benefit amount over the fair value of the underlying mutual fund investments.

CIGNA is providing the following information about its reserving methodology and assumptions for guaranteed minimum death benefits in response to SOP 03-1, described in Note 2, which was effective in the first quarter of 2004.

16



·  
The reserves represent estimates of the present value of net amounts expected to be paid, less the present value of net future premiums. Included in net amounts expected to be paid is the excess of the guaranteed death benefits over the values of the contractholders’ accounts (based on underlying equity and bond mutual fund investments).
·  
The reserves include an estimate for partial surrenders that essentially lock in the death benefit for a particular policy based on annual election rates that vary from 0-14% depending on the net amount at risk for each policy.
·  
The mean investment performance assumption is 5% considering CIGNA's program to reduce equity market exposures using futures and forward contracts (described above).
·  
The volatility assumption is 15-30%, varying by equity fund type; 3-7%, varying by bond fund type; and 1% for money market funds.
·  
The mortality assumption is 70-75% of the 1994 Group Annuity Mortality table, with 1% annual improvement beginning January 1, 2000.
·  
The lapse rate assumption is 0-15%, depending on contract type, policy duration and the ratio of the net amount at risk to account value.
·  
The discount rate is 5.75%.

The table below presents the account value, net amount at risk and average attained age of underlying contractholders for guarantees in the event of death, by type of benefit as of September 30, 2004 and December 31, 2003. The net amount at risk is the death benefit coverage in force or the amount that CIGNA would have to pay if all contractholders had died as of the specified date, and represents the excess of the guaranteed benefit amount over the fair value of the underlying mutual fund investments.

       
   
As of
 
(Dollars in millions)
 
September 30,
2004
 
December 31,
2003
 
Highest annuity value
         
   Account value
 
$
37,095
 
$
41,497
 
   Net amount at risk
 
$
9,980
 
$
10,951
 
   Average attained age of
      contractholders
   
65
   
65
 
Anniversary value reset
             
   Account value
 
$
3,021
 
$
4,474
 
   Net amount at risk
 
$
266
 
$
309
 
   Average attained age of
      contractholders
   
59
   
59
 
Other
             
   Account value
 
$
4,147
 
$
6,530
 
   Net amount at risk
 
$
1,316
 
$
1,660
 
   Average attained age of
      contractholders
   
63
   
64
 
Total
             
   Account value
 
$
44,263
 
$
52,501
 
   Net amount at risk
 
$
11,563
 
$
12,920
 
   Average attained age of
      contractholders (weighted by
      exposure)
   
65
   
64
 
   Number of contractholders
   
1.2 million
   
1.4 million
 

CIGNA has also written reinsurance contracts with issuers of variable annuity contracts that provide annuitants with certain guarantees related to minimum income benefits. See Note 13 for further information.

17



NOTE 7 - PENSION AND OTHER POSTRETIREMENT BENEFIT PLANS

Pension benefits. CIGNA funds its qualified pension plans at least at the minimum amount required by the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA). In accordance with minimum funding requirements, CIGNA has made total domestic pension plan contributions of approximately $145 million and expects to make no additional contributions in 2004.

Components of net pension cost were as follows:

           
   
Three Months
Ended
September 30,
 
Nine Months
Ended
September 30,
 
(In millions)
 
2004
 
2003
 
2004
 
2003
 
Service cost
 
$
18
 
$
20
 
$
56
 
$
60
 
Interest cost
   
55
   
55
   
165
   
166
 
Expected return on plan
   assets
   
(47
)
 
(50
)
 
(143
)
 
(150
)
Amortization of:
                         
   Net loss from past
   experience
   
28
   
6
   
76
   
17
 
   Prior service cost
   
(1
)
 
   
(1
)
 
 
Net pension cost
 
$
53
 
$
31
 
$
153
 
$
93
 

In connection with the sale of the retirement benefits business and the operational effectiveness review, CIGNA had a pension curtailment event. In addition, CIGNA completed the annual update of plan participant data in the second quarter of 2004 and a plan amendment in the third quarter of 2004.

As a result of the action taken in the third quarter of 2004, CIGNA remeasured the assets and obligations of its domestic qualified plan and increased equity by $21 million after-tax as compared to June 30, 2004. This change was primarily due to an increase in long-term interest rates (from 5.75% to 6.00%) used to determine the accumulated benefit obligation, partially offset by the effect of stock market depreciation on plan assets.

As a result of the actions taken through September 30, 2004, CIGNA decreased equity by $131 million after-tax as compared to December 31, 2003. This charge was primarily due to a reduction in long-term interest rates (from 6.25% to 6.00%), as well as the annual update of plan participant data, partially offset by the effect of stock market appreciation on plan assets.

Other postretirement benefits. In the second quarter of 2004, CIGNA recognized the effects of the Medicare Prescription Drug Improvement and Modernization Act of 2003, retroactive to January 1, 2004 in determining its accumulated other postretirement benefit obligation and net other postretirement benefit cost. The effects of retroactive application were to reduce the accumulated other postretirement benefit obligation as of January 1, 2004, by approximately $20 million pre-tax and to reduce the net other postretirement benefit cost by less than $1 million pre-tax. In addition, in the second quarter of 2004, CIGNA amended its postretirement medical benefits plan to integrate pharmacy benefits with the 2003 Act and reduced its accumulated other postretirement benefit obligation by $29 million pre-tax.


18


Components of net other postretirement benefit cost were as follows:

           
   
Three Months
Ended
September 30,
 
Nine Months
Ended
September 30,
 
(In millions)
 
2004
 
2003
 
2004
 
2003
 
Service cost
 
$
1
 
$
1
 
$
2
 
$
2
 
Interest cost
   
7
   
9
   
24
   
27
 
Expected return on plan
   assets
   
(1
)
 
(1
)
 
(2
)
 
(2
)
Amortization of prior
   service cost
   
(4
)
 
(5
)
 
(12
)
 
(13
)
Net other postretirement
   benefit cost
 
$
3
 
$
4
 
$
12
 
$
14
 

CIGNA also recognized pre-tax curtailment gains for other postretirement benefits as follows:

           
   
Three Months
Ended
September 30,
 
Nine Months
Ended
September 30,
 
(In millions)
 
2004
 
2003
 
2004
 
2003
 
Operational effectiveness
   review and sale of the
   retirement benefits business
 
$
5
 
$
 
$
19
 
$
 
2002 Health Care restructuring
   
   
1
   
   
10
 
Total curtailment gains
 
$
5
 
$
1
 
$
19
 
$
10
 

NOTE 8 - INVESTMENTS

Realized Investment Gains and Losses

The following realized gains and losses on investments exclude amounts required to adjust future policy benefits and amounts that were attributable to experience-rated pension policyholder contracts prior to the reclassification of securities to trading in the fourth quarter of 2003.

           
   
Three Months
Ended
September 30,
 
Nine Months
Ended
September 30,
 
(In millions)
 
2004
 
2003
 
2004
 
2003
 
Fixed maturities
 
$
3
 
$
(37
)
$
119
 
$
(20
)
Equity securities
   
7
   
37
   
19
   
73
 
Mortgage loans
   
(4
)
 
   
215
   
(1
)
Real estate
   
(1
)
 
   
51
   
(1
)
Derivatives and other
   
6
   
49
   
43
   
76
 
Realized investment gains,
   before income taxes
   
11
   
49
   
447
   
127
 
Less income taxes
   
3
   
17
   
156
   
44
 
Net realized investment
   gains
 
$
8
 
$
32
 
$
291
 
$
83
 


19



Fixed Maturities and Equity Securities

The following sales of available-for-sale fixed maturities and equity securities include amounts required to adjust future policy benefits and amounts that were attributable to experience-rated pension policyholder contracts prior to the reclassification of securities to trading in the fourth quarter of 2003.

           
   
Three Months
Ended
September 30,
 
Nine Months
Ended
September 30,
 
(In millions)
 
2004
 
2003
 
2004
 
2003
 
Proceeds from sales
 
$
1,164
 
$
1,864
 
$
2,307
 
$
6,097
 
Gross gains on sales
 
$
26
 
$
114
 
$
236
 
$
303
 
Gross losses on sales
 
$
(7
)
$
(15
)
$
(41
)
$
(59
)

As of September 30, 2004, fixed maturities include $70 million of securities classified as trading and carried at fair value with changes in fair value reported in other revenues. The change in fair value of these securities was $4 million pre-tax for the nine months of 2004.

Review of Declines in Fair Value. Management reviews fixed maturities and equity securities for impairment based on criteria that include:

· length of time and severity of decline;
· financial health and specific near term prospects of the issuer; and
· changes in the regulatory, economic or general market environment of the issuer’s industry or geographic region.

As of September 30, 2004, fixed maturities with a decline in fair value from cost (primarily investment grade corporate bonds) were as follows, including the length of time of such decline:
 
                 
 (In millions)  
 Fair
Value
 
  Amortized
Cost
 
  Unrealized
Depreciation
 
One year or less:
               
Investment grade
 
$
1,505
 
$
1,528
 
$
(23
)
Below investment grade
 
$
72
 
$
74
 
$
(2
)
More than one year:
                   
Investment grade
 
$
495
 
$
508
 
$
(13
)
Below investment grade
 
$
30
 
$
31
 
$
(1
)

There were no equity securities with a material decline in fair value from cost at September 30, 2004.

NOTE 9 - ACCUMULATED OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)

Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) excludes:

·  
amounts required to adjust future policy benefits;
·  
amounts that were attributable to experience-rated pension policyholder contracts prior to the reclassification of securities to trading in the fourth quarter of 2003; and
·  
amounts required to adjust other liabilities after the initial reclassification of unrealized appreciation under a modified coinsurance arrangement.

20



Changes in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) as of the third quarter and nine months ended are as follows:

               
 
(In millions)
 
Pre-Tax
 
Tax
(Expense)
Benefit
 
After-
Tax
 
Three Months Ended September 30,
 
2004
             
Net unrealized appreciation, securities:
             
Unrealized appreciation on securities held
 
$
303
 
$
(106
)
$
197
 
Gains realized on securities
   
(10
)
 
4
   
(6
)
Net unrealized appreciation, securities
 
$
293
 
$
(102
)
$
191
 
Net unrealized appreciation, derivatives
 
$
6
 
$
(3
)
$
3
 
Net translation of foreign currencies
 
$
5
 
$
(2
)
$
3
 
Minimum pension liability adjustment
 
$
32
 
$
(11
)
$
21
 
2003
                   
Net unrealized depreciation,
   securities:
                   
Unrealized depreciation on securities held
 
$
(183
)
$
64
 
$
(119
)
Gains realized on securities
   
   
   
 
Net unrealized depreciation, securities
 
$
(183
)
$
64
 
$
(119
)
Net unrealized depreciation, derivatives
 
$
(6
)
$
2
 
$
(4
)
Net translation of foreign currencies:
                   
Net translation of foreign currencies held
 
$
(9
)
$
3
 
$
(6
)
Foreign currency translation losses realized on
   sale of business
   
3
   
(1
)
 
2
 
Net translation of foreign currencies
 
$
(6
)
$
2
 
$
(4
)
                     
Nine Months Ended September 30,
                   
2004
                   
Net unrealized depreciation, securities:
                   
Unrealized appreciation on securities held
 
$
85
 
$
(34
)
$
51
 
Gains realized on securities
   
(138
)
 
49
   
(89
)
Reclassification to other liabilities for
   modified coinsurance arrangement
   
(256
)
 
90
   
(166
)
Net unrealized depreciation, securities
 
$
(309
)
$
105
 
$
(204
)
Net unrealized appreciation, derivatives
 
$
14
 
$
(5
)
$
9
 
Net translation of foreign currencies
 
$
1
 
$
 
$
1
 
Minimum pension liability adjustment
 
$
(202
)
$
71
 
$
(131
)
2003
                   
Net unrealized appreciation,
   securities:
                   
Unrealized appreciation on securities held
 
$
254
 
$
(89
)
$
165
 
Gains realized on securities
   
(53
)
 
19
   
(34
)
Net unrealized appreciation, securities
 
$
201
 
$
(70
)
$
131
 
Net unrealized depreciation, derivatives
 
$
(13
)
$
4
 
$
(9
)
Net translation of foreign currencies:
                   
Net translation on foreign currencies held
 
$
5
 
$
(2
)
$
3
 
Foreign currency translation losses realized on
   sales of businesses
   
20
   
(7
)
 
13
 
Net translation of foreign currencies
 
$
25
 
$
(9
)
$
16
 
Minimum pension liability adjustment
 
$
(21
)
$
8
 
$
(13
)


21


NOTE 10 - EARNINGS PER SHARE

Basic and diluted earnings per share (as restated) were computed as follows:
 
 
         
 (Dollars in millions, except per share
   amounts)
 
Basic 
 
 Effect of
Dilution
 
Diluted 
 
  Three Months Ended September 30,              
2004
             
Income from continuing operations
 
$
312
 
$
 
$
312
 
Shares (in thousands):
                   
Weighted average
   
134,910
   
   
134,910
 
Options and restricted stock grants
         
1,565
   
1,565
 
Total shares
   
134,910
   
1,565
   
136,475
 
EPS
 
$
2.31
 
$
(0.02
)
$
2.29
 
2003
                   
Income from continuing operations
 
$
195
 
$
 
$
195
 
Shares (in thousands):
                   
Weighted average
   
139,740
   
   
139,740
 
Options and restricted stock grants
         
800
   
800
 
Total shares
   
139,740
   
800
   
140,540
 
EPS
 
$
1.40
 
$
(0.01
)
$
1.39
 
Nine Months Ended September 30,
           
2004
                   
Income from continuing operations
 
$
1,017
 
$
 
$
1,017
 
Shares (in thousands):
                   
Weighted average
   
137,893
   
   
137,893
 
Options and restricted stock grants
         
1,524
   
1,524
 
Total shares
   
137,893
   
1,524
   
139,417
 
EPS
 
$
7.38
 
$
(0.09
)
$
7.29
 
2003
                   
Income from continuing operations
 
$
327
 
$
 
$
327
 
Shares (in thousands):
                   
Weighted average
   
139,725
   
   
139,725
 
Options and restricted stock grants
         
730
   
730
 
Total shares
   
139,725
   
730
   
140,455
 
EPS
 
$
2.34
 
$
(0.01
)
$
2.33
 

Common shares held as Treasury shares were 141,718,172 as of September 30, 2004, and 133,913,353 as of September 30, 2003.

NOTE 11 - REINSURANCE

In the normal course of business, CIGNA’s insurance subsidiaries enter into agreements with other insurance companies to assume and cede reinsurance. Reinsurance is ceded primarily to limit losses from large exposures and to permit recovery of a portion of direct losses. Reinsurance does not relieve the originating insurer of liability. CIGNA evaluates the financial condition of its reinsurers and monitors their concentrations of credit risk.

Retirement benefits business. CIGNA had a reinsurance recoverable of $13.5 billion at September 30, 2004 from Prudential Retirement Insurance and Annuity Company resulting from the sale of the retirement benefits business, which was primarily in the form of a reinsurance arrangement. The reinsurance recoverable is secured primarily by fixed maturities and mortgage loans held in a business trust established by the reinsurer. This recoverable is reduced as CIGNA's reinsured liabilities are paid or directly assumed by the reinsurer.

Individual life and annuity reinsurance. CIGNA had a reinsurance recoverable of $5.2 billion at September 30, 2004, and $5.4 billion at December 31, 2003, from Lincoln National Corporation that arose from the 1998 sale of CIGNA’s individual life insurance and annuity business through an indemnity reinsurance arrangement.

Unicover and other run-off reinsurance. The Run-off Reinsurance operations participate in a workers’ compensation reinsurance pool, which ceased accepting new risks in early 1999. This pool was formerly managed by Unicover Managers, Inc. Although an arbitration over the most significant reinsurance (retrocessional) contracts for the pool was completed in 2002, some disputes over collection of amounts due CIGNA from the retrocessionaires continue and may require further arbitration actions to resolve. Also, disputes and arbitrations regarding other reinsurance (retrocessional) contracts for the pool remain and may not be resolved for some time.

22



Run-off Reinsurance also includes other workers’ compensation reinsurance contracts, as well as personal accident reinsurance contracts, including contracts assumed in the London market. CIGNA obtained retrocessional reinsurance coverage for a significant portion of its liabilities under these contracts. Some of these retrocessionaires have disputed the validity of their contracts with CIGNA and arbitration over some of these disputes has commenced.

The retrocessional disputes are not expected to be resolved for some time. In addition, unfavorable claims experience related to workers’ compensation and personal accident exposures is possible and could result in future losses, including losses attributable to the inability to recover amounts from retrocessionaires (either due to disputes with the retrocessionaires or their financial condition).

CIGNA’s reserves for amounts recoverable from retrocessionaires, as well as for reserves for liabilities associated with underlying reinsurance exposures assumed by CIGNA, are considered appropriate as of September 30, 2004, based on current information. However, it is possible that future developments could have a material adverse effect on CIGNA’s consolidated results of operations, and, in certain situations, could have a material adverse effect on CIGNA’s financial condition.

Other reinsurance. CIGNA could have losses if reinsurers fail to indemnify CIGNA on other reinsurance arrangements, either because of reinsurer insolvencies or contract disputes. However, management does not expect charges for other unrecoverable reinsurance to have a material adverse effect on CIGNA’s consolidated results of operations, liquidity or financial condition.

Effects of reinsurance. In CIGNA’s consolidated income statements, premiums and fees were net of ceded premiums, and benefits, losses and settlement expenses were net of reinsurance recoveries, in the following amounts:

           
   
Three Months Ended
September 30,
 
Nine Months Ended
September 30,
 
(In millions)
 
2004
 
2003
 
2004
 
2003
 
Premiums and fees
                         
Individual life insurance and
   annuity business sold
 
$
72
 
$
71
 
$
219
 
$
230
 
Other
   
34
   
50
   
111
   
135
 
Total
 
$
106
 
$
121
 
$
330
 
$
365
 
Reinsurance recoveries
                         
Individual life insurance and
   annuity business sold
 
$
75
 
$
50
 
$
224
 
$
199
 
Other
   
56
   
29
   
108
   
114
 
Total
 
$
131
 
$
79
 
$
332
 
$
313
 

NOTE 12 - SEGMENT INFORMATION

Operating segments generally reflect groups of related products, but the International segment is based on geography. CIGNA measures the financial results of its segments using “segment earnings” which is defined as income (loss) from continuing operations before realized investment gains (losses).

The impact of the restatement as discussed in Note 3, is included in Corporate and is not allocated to the operating segments.

In the second quarter of 2004, CIGNA completed the sale of its retirement benefits business and also realigned management responsibility for operations that provide case management and related services to workers’ compensation insurers and employers who self-fund workers’ compensation and disability benefits. To appropriately reflect the impact of these actions, CIGNA has changed its segment reporting, and prior periods have been reclassified to conform to this presentation:

23




·  
the sold retirement benefits business is reported in the Run-off Retirement segment;
·  
the corporate life insurance business (previously reported in the Retirement segment) was retained and is reported in Other Operations; and
·  
results from the disability and workers’ compensation case management activities (previously reported in the Health Care segment) are included in the Disability and Life segment.

Beginning in the second quarter of 2004, corporate overhead previously allocated to the sold retirement benefits business is reported in Corporate.

Summarized segment financial information was as follows:

           
   
Three Months
Ended
September 30,
 
Nine Months
Ended
September 30,
 
(In millions)
 
2004
 
2003
 
2004
 
2003
 
Premiums and fees and other revenues
         
Health Care
 
$
3,038
 
$
3,311
 
$
9,025
 
$
10,001
 
Disability and Life
   
532
   
487
   
1,578
   
1,443
 
International
   
252
   
226
   
748
   
648
 
Run-off Retirement
   
194
   
67
   
522
   
202
 
Run-off Reinsurance
   
50
   
(51
)
 
32
   
(269
)
Other Operations
   
66
   
79
   
218
   
259
 
Corporate
   
(4
)
 
(18
)
 
(34
)
 
(53
)
Total
 
$
4,128
 
$
4,101
 
$
12,089
 
$
12,231
 
Income (loss) from continuing
    operations
                 
Health Care
 
$
206
 
$
70
 
$
533
 
$
270
 
Disability and Life
   
41
   
37
   
128
   
116
 
International
   
23
   
20
   
58
   
41
 
Run-off Retirement
   
90
   
50
   
146
   
147
 
Run-off Reinsurance
   
(54
)
 
(20
)
 
(77
)
 
(341
)
Other Operations
   
23
   
27
   
59
   
83
 
Corporate (restated)
   
(25
)
 
(21
)
 
(121
)
 
(72
)
Segment earnings (restated)
   
304
   
163
   
726
   
244
 
Realized investment gains, net of
   taxes
   
8
   
32
   
291
   
83
 
Income from
   continuing operations
   (restated)
 
$
312
 
$
195
 
$
1,017
 
$
327
 

NOTE 13 - CONTINGENCIES AND OTHER MATTERS

CIGNA, through its subsidiaries, is contingently liable for various financial guarantees provided in the ordinary course of business.

Financial Guarantees Primarily Associated with the Retirement Benefits Business

Separate account assets, primarily associated with the sold retirement benefits business, are contractholder funds maintained in accounts with specific investment objectives. CIGNA records separate account liabilities equal to separate account assets. In certain cases, CIGNA guarantees a minimum level of benefits for retirement and insurance contracts written in separate accounts. CIGNA establishes an additional liability if management believes that CIGNA will be required to make a payment under these guarantees. Except as noted below, these guarantees are fully reinsured by an affiliate of the buyer:

24



·  
CIGNA guarantees that separate account assets will be sufficient to pay certain retiree or life benefits. The sponsoring employers are primarily responsible for ensuring that assets are sufficient to pay these benefits and are required to maintain assets that exceed a certain percentage of benefit obligations. This percentage varies depending on the asset class within a sponsoring employer’s portfolio (for example, a bond fund would require a lower percentage than a riskier equity fund) and thus will vary as the composition of the portfolio changes. If employers do not maintain the required levels of separate account assets, CIGNA has the right to redirect the management of the related assets to provide for benefit payments. As of September 30, 2004, employers maintained assets that exceeded 102% to 132% of benefit obligations. Benefit obligations under these arrangements were $3.4 billion as of September 30, 2004 and $3.5 billion as of December 31, 2003. As of September 30, 2004 approximately 90% of these guarantees are reinsured by an affiliate of the buyer of the retirement benefits business. There were no additional liabilities required for these guarantees as of September 30, 2004, or December 31, 2003.

·  
For certain employer-sponsored savings and retirement plans, CIGNA guarantees that participants will receive the value of their accounts at the time of withdrawal. These guarantees could require payment by CIGNA in the event that a significant number of plan participants withdraw their accounts when the market value of the related separate account assets is less than plan participant account values at the time of withdrawal. Participant account values under these arrangements are invested primarily in fixed income investments and were $2.0 billion as of September 30, 2004, and December 31, 2003. There were no additional liabilities required for these guarantees as of September 30, 2004, or December 31, 2003.

·  
CIGNA guarantees a minimum level of earnings (based on investment, mortality and retirement experience) for a certain group annuity contract. If the actual investment return is less than the minimum guaranteed level, CIGNA is required to fund the difference. The guaranteed benefit obligation was $303 million as of September 30, 2004, and $304 million as of December 31, 2003. CIGNA had additional liabilities for this guarantee of $16 million as of September 30, 2004, and $15 million as of December 31, 2003. In addition, CIGNA guarantees that separate accounts assets will be sufficient to pay retiree benefits for these group annuity participants. This guaranteed benefit obligation was $367 million as of September 30, 2004 and $371 million as of December 31, 2003. There were no additional liabilities required for this guarantee as of September 30, 2004 or December 31, 2003. The fair value of separate account assets for this group annuity contract were as follows:
 
           
(In millions)
 
September 30,
2004
 
December 31,
2003
 
Fixed maturities
 
$
338
 
$
342
 
Mortgage loans
   
105
   
134
 
Other
   
28
   
3
 
   Total
 
$
471
 
$
479
 

Other Financial Guarantees

CIGNA guaranteed construction loans of $26 million as of September 30, 2004, and December 31, 2003, related to real estate joint venture investments. The loans are secured by joint venture real estate property with fair values in excess of the loan amounts and mature by 2008, including extension options. CIGNA would be required to repay the construction loans if permanent financing could not be obtained. There were no liabilities required for these guarantees as of September 30, 2004, or December 31, 2003.

25



CIGNA had indemnification obligations to lenders up to $248 million as of September 30, 2004, and $329 million as of December 31, 2003, related to borrowings by certain real estate joint ventures, which CIGNA either records as an investment or consolidates. These borrowings, which are nonrecourse to CIGNA, are secured by the joint ventures’ real estate properties with fair values in excess of the loan amounts and mature at various dates from 2005 to 2015. CIGNA’s indemnification obligations would require payment to lenders for any actual damages resulting from certain acts such as unauthorized ownership transfers, misappropriation of rental payments by others or environmental damages. Based on initial and ongoing reviews of property management and operations, CIGNA does not expect that payments will be required under these indemnification obligations. Any payments that might be required could be recovered through a refinancing or sale of the assets. In some cases, CIGNA also has recourse to partners for their proportionate share of amounts paid. There were no liabilities required for these indemnification obligations as of September 30, 2004, or December 31, 2003.

As of September 30, 2004 and December 31, 2003, CIGNA guaranteed that it would compensate the lessor for a shortfall of up to $49 million in the market value of leased equipment at the end of the lease. Guarantees of $21 million expire in 2006 and $28 million expire in 2012. CIGNA had additional liabilities for these guarantees of $2 million as of September 30, 2004, and December 31, 2003.

CIGNA has indemnification obligations as of September 30, 2004, and December 31, 2003, in connection with acquisition and disposition transactions. These indemnification obligations are triggered by the breach of representations or covenants provided by CIGNA, such as representations for the presentation of financial statements, the filing of tax returns, compliance with law or the identification of outstanding litigation. These obligations are typically subject to various time limitations, defined by the contract or by operation of law, such as statutes of limitation. In some cases, the maximum potential amount due is subject to contractual limitations based on a percentage of the transaction purchase price, while in other cases limitations are not specified or applicable. CIGNA does not believe that it is possible to determine the maximum potential amount due under these guarantees, since not all amounts due under these indemnification obligations are subject to limitation. There were no liabilities required for these indemnification obligations as of September 30, 2004, or December 31, 2003.

CIGNA does not expect that these guarantees will have a material adverse effect on CIGNA’s consolidated results of operations, liquidity or financial condition.

Guaranteed minimum income benefit contracts. CIGNA's reinsurance operations, which were discontinued in 2000 and are now an inactive business in run-off mode, reinsured variable annuity contracts that provide annuitants with certain guarantees related to minimum income benefits. When annuitants elect to receive these minimum income benefits, CIGNA may be required to make payments based on changes in underlying mutual fund values and interest rates.

CIGNA estimates the fair value of the assets and liabilities associated with these contracts using assumptions as to equity market returns, volatility of the underlying equity and bond mutual fund investments, interest rates, mortality, policy surrenders, credit risk and annuity election rates.

CIGNA is required to disclose the maximum potential undiscounted future payments for guarantees related to minimum income benefits using worst-case assumptions, defined as follows:

·  
No annuitants surrendered their accounts, and
·  
All annuitants lived to elect their benefits; and
·  
All annuitants elected to receive their benefit on the first available date (beginning in 2004 through 2014); and
·  
All underlying mutual fund investment values remained at the September 30, 2004 value of $3.2 billion, with no future returns.

The maximum potential undiscounted payments that CIGNA would make under those assumptions would aggregate $2.0 billion before reinsurance recoveries. CIGNA believes the likelihood of such payment is remote and expects the amount of actual payments to be significantly less than this hypothetical undiscounted aggregate amount.

CIGNA had purchased reinsurance from third parties which covered 80% of the exposures on these contracts. During 2004 and 2003, CIGNA revised credit risk assumptions for one reinsurer, and in October 2004, CIGNA entered into an agreement with that reinsurer relieving them of any future obligation to CIGNA. As a result, CIGNA expects recovery of approximately 55% of the exposures on these contracts.
 

26



As of September 30, 2004, CIGNA had liabilities of $114 million related to these contracts and amounts recoverable from reinsurers of $71 million. CIGNA had an additional liability of $38 million associated with the cost of reinsurance as of September 30, 2004. As of December 31, 2003, CIGNA had liabilities of $74 million related to these contracts and amounts recoverable from reinsurers of $51 million. CIGNA had an additional liability of $40 million associated with the cost of reinsurance as of December 31, 2003. Management believes the current assumptions used to estimate reserves for these liabilities are appropriate.

Leases and Rentals

Commitments made in 2004 for future net minimum rental payments under new non-cancelable operating leases were $83 million, net of future minimum lease payments assumed by the buyer of the retirement benefits business.

Regulatory and Industry Developments
Employee benefits regulation. The business of administering and insuring employee benefit programs, particularly health care programs, is heavily regulated by federal and state laws and administrative agencies, such as state departments of insurance and the federal Departments of Labor and Justice, as well as the courts. Regulation and judicial decisions have resulted in changes to industry and CIGNA’s business practices and will continue to do so in the future. In addition, CIGNA's subsidiaries are routinely involved with various claims, lawsuits and regulatory audits and investigations that could result in financial liability, changes in business practices, or both. Health care regulation in its various forms could have an adverse effect on CIGNA's health care operations if it inhibits CIGNA's ability to respond to market demands or results in increased medical or administrative costs without improving the quality of care or services. 

In the second quarter of 2004, the United States Supreme Court ruled in CIGNA's favor, in a case involving a CIGNA subsidiary, by ruling that ERISA preempts a state law tort claim in circumstances involving a determination, based on medical judgment, that benefits were not covered. Under ERISA, plan participants have access to internal and external appeals processes to resolve coverage disputes and may bring action in the federal courts to resolve health care coverage issues.

The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA), the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act of 1999 and related regulations have created significant regulatory requirements related to, among other things, the privacy of individually identifiable health care information, electronic data interchange and the security of electronic health information. CIGNA has instituted systems enhancements and training, and has undertaken other administrative efforts to satisfy these requirements.

Other possible regulatory changes that could have an adverse effect on CIGNA’s employee benefits businesses include:

·  
additional mandated benefits or services that increase costs without improving the quality of care;
·  
legislation that would grant plan participants broader rights to sue their health plans;
·  
changes in ERISA regulations resulting in increased administrative burdens and costs;
·  
additional restrictions on the use of prescription drug formularies;
·  
additional privacy legislation and regulations that interfere with the proper use of medical information for research, coordination of medical care and disease and disability management;
·  
additional rules establishing the time periods for payment of health care provider claims that vary from state to state; and
·  
legislation that would exempt independent physicians from antitrust laws.

The employee benefits industry remains under scrutiny by various state and federal government agencies and could be subject to government efforts to bring criminal actions in circumstances that could previously have given rise only to civil or administrative proceedings.

Tax liability on policyholder surplus accounts. In October 2004, the American Jobs Creation Act of 2004 was enacted. The legislation suspends, for a two-year period commencing January 1, 2005, the tax liability of stock life insurance companies on distributions from the policyholder surplus account. As a result of this legislation, and subject to regulatory approval, CIGNA's principal subsidiary has the ability to distribute amounts from this account to the parent company without incurring federal income tax. For additional information, see Note 14 of CIGNA's 2003 Annual Report to Shareholders.

27



Tax benefits for corporate life insurance. Federal legislation in 1996 eliminated on a prospective basis the tax deductibility of policy loan interest for most leveraged corporate life insurance products, and an Internal Revenue Service initiative in 2001 encouraged policyholders to settle tax disputes regarding these products. As a result, some customers have surrendered their policies and management expects earnings associated with these products to continue to decline.

Litigation and Other Legal Matters

In the first quarter of 2004, a Florida federal court handling multi-district health care litigation against CIGNA and several health care industry competitors approved a settlement agreement between the physician class and CIGNA, and dismissed all claims by class members against CIGNA. All appeals of the courts’ approval have been withdrawn, which permits implementation of the settlement. The settlement resolves for CIGNA and the plaintiff class all physician claims reflected in the litigation.

In the third quarter of 2003, CIGNA recorded an after-tax charge of $37 million ($57 million pre-tax) to increase the reserve for this settlement and other non-physician provider health care litigation. CIGNA had previously recognized an after-tax charge of $50 million ($77 million pre-tax) in 2002 for expected costs associated with the multi-district litigation. The reserve reflects insurance recoveries.

During the second and third quarters of 2004, CIGNA, some of its competitors, insurance companies in other lines of business and certain insurance brokers received subpoenas from the New York Attorney General relating to his investigation of broker compensation. During the third quarter of 2004, the New York Attorney General broadened his investigation and brought suit against a large insurance broker, alleging that the broker sought rigged bids from, and steered business to, certain property and casualty insurers with whom it had contingent compensation arrangements. The Connecticut Attorney General opened a similar investigation and sent subpoenas to CIGNA and some of its competitors. Separately, class action lawyers filed two lawsuits against a different insurance broker and several group life, disability and accident insurance companies, including CIGNA subsidiaries, asserting among other things, that contingent commissions are unlawful. CIGNA is cooperating with the inquiries by the New York and Connecticut Attorneys General and disagrees with the assertions against it in the lawsuits.

During the third quarter of 2004, the New York Attorney General commenced a lawsuit against Express Scripts, Inc. and two CIGNA insurance companies. Under an agreement with the CIGNA companies, Express Scripts is responsible for administering the prescription drug benefit program under New York State’s principal employee health plan, the Empire Plan. The CIGNA companies insure the prescription drug benefit program and hold the contract with the New York State Department of Civil Service. The complaint primarily focuses on administration of the prescription drug benefit program.

In 2002, several purported class action lawsuits, as well as two shareholder derivative complaints nominally brought on behalf of CIGNA, were filed in federal court in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania against CIGNA and certain of its senior officers and directors. These suits allege securities law violations and breaches of fiduciary duty. Two other purported class action lawsuits asserting violations of ERISA were filed against CIGNA and certain officers in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania by individuals who seek to represent a class of participants in the CIGNA 401(k) Plan who allegedly suffered losses on investments in CIGNA stock.

During 2002, a Connecticut federal court certified a class action lawsuit against CIGNA and the CIGNA Pension Plan. The plaintiffs are participants in the Plan who earned certain Plan benefits prior to 1998. The plaintiffs allege, among other things, that the Plan violated ERISA by impermissibly conditioning certain post-1997 benefit accruals on the amount of pre-1998 benefit accruals, that these conditions are not adequately disclosed to Plan participants, and that the Plan’s cash balance formula discriminates against older employees.

See “Unicover and other run-off reinsurance” in Note 11 for a description of legal matters arising out of the run-off reinsurance operations.
 
CIGNA is routinely involved in numerous claims, lawsuits, regulatory audits, investigations and other legal matters arising, for the most part, in the ordinary course of the business of administering and insuring employee benefit programs. An increasing number of claims are being made for substantial non-economic, extra-contractual or punitive damages. The outcome of litigation and other legal matters is always uncertain, and outcomes that are not justified by the evidence can occur. CIGNA believes that it has valid defenses to the legal matters pending against it and is defending itself vigorously. Nevertheless, it is possible that resolution of one or more of the legal matters currently pending or threatened could result in losses material to CIGNA’s consolidated results of operations, liquidity or financial condition.

28

 
Item 2.  Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
 
As discussed in Note 4 to the Financial Statements, CIGNA's Consolidated Financial Statements for the periods covered by this report have been restated. The accompanying Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations gives effect to this restatement. For additional information regarding the restatement, please refer to Note 4 to the Financial Statements.

29


   
INDEX
 
Introduction
30
Overview
30
Consolidated Results of Operations (As Restated,
See Note 3)
32
Sale of Retirement Benefits Business
35
Other Matters
36
Health Care
41
Disability and Life
44
International
45
Run-off Retirement
46
Run-off Reinsurance
47
Other Operations
50
Corporate (As Restated, See Note 3)
51
Discontinued Operations
51
Liquidity and Capital Resources
52
Investment Assets
57
Market Risk
58
Cautionary Statement
60
   
 
INTRODUCTION

In this filing and in other marketplace communications, CIGNA makes certain forward-looking statements relating to its financial condition and results of operations, as well as to trends and assumptions that may affect CIGNA. Generally, forward-looking statements can be identified through the use of predictive words (e.g., “Outlook for 2004 and 2005”). Actual results may differ from CIGNA’s predictions. Some factors that could cause results to differ are discussed throughout Management’s Discussion and Analysis, including in the Cautionary Statement on page 60.

The following discussion addresses the financial condition of CIGNA as of September 30, 2004, compared with December 31, 2003, and its results of operations for the third quarter and nine months ended September 30, 2004, compared with the same periods last year. This discussion should be read in conjunction with Management’s Discussion and Analysis included in CIGNA’s 2003 Annual Report to Shareholders, to which the reader is directed for additional information.

The preparation of interim financial statements necessarily relies heavily on estimates. This and certain other factors, such as the seasonal nature of portions of the insurance business as well as competitive and other market conditions, call for caution in estimating full year results based on interim results of operations.
 
OVERVIEW

CIGNA Corporation’s subsidiaries provide health care and related benefits offered through the workplace. Key product lines include health care products and services (medical, pharmacy, behavioral health, clinical information management, dental benefits, and disease management) as well as group disability, life and accident insurance, and disability and workers’ compensation case management and related services. In addition, CIGNA has an international operation that offers similar products to businesses and individuals in selected markets, and has certain inactive businesses including a run-off retirement operation (see page 26 for further discussion) and a run-off reinsurance operation.

30



CIGNA’s results are influenced by a range of economic and other factors, including:

·  
cost trends and inflation levels for medical and related services;
·  
patterns of utilization of medical and other services;
·  
employment levels;
·  
the tort liability system;
·  
interest rates and equity market returns;
·  
regulations and tax rules related to the provision and administration of employee benefit plans; and
·  
initiatives to increase health care regulation.

CIGNA generates revenues, income and cash flow by maintaining and growing its relationships with employers and consumers, charging prices that reflect emerging experience and investing available cash at attractive rates of return for appropriate durations. CIGNA's ability to increase operating results in terms of growth in revenues, net income and operating cash flow is directly related to its ability to execute plans that address broad economic factors as well as company-specific drivers.

Key company-specific drivers affecting CIGNA’s results include:

·  
the absolute level of and trends in benefit costs;
·  
the volume of customers served and the mix of products and services purchased by those customers;
·  
competitiveness of CIGNA's product design and service quality;
·  
the ability to price products and services competitively at levels that appropriately account for underlying cost inflation and utilization patterns; and
·  
the relationship between administrative costs and revenue.

CIGNA regularly monitors trends in the above mentioned economic and other factors and the company-specific drivers of operating results. CIGNA develops strategic and tactical plans designed to improve performance and maximize its competitive position in the markets served. CIGNA's ability to achieve its financial objectives is dependent upon its ability to effectively execute these plans and to appropriately respond to emerging economic and company-specific trends.

CIGNA is focused, in particular, on continuing to improve the performance of the health care operations, which is dependent on membership growth, and on managing the risks associated with the run-off reinsurance operations. In the health care operations, CIGNA has initiatives in place to (1) lower medical cost trends; (2) deliver quality member service; (3) lower administrative expenses; and (4) improve medical membership results (see page 43 for further discussion). In the run-off reinsurance operations, CIGNA maintains a program to reduce the equity market risk associated with its guaranteed minimum death benefit reinsurance exposures. CIGNA is also working to resolve disputes associated with workers’ compensation and other reinsurance contracts (see page 49 for further discussion).

The recent sale of the retirement benefits business improved parent company liquidity and enhanced financial flexibility for CIGNA but will reduce revenues, net income, cash flows from operating activities and invested assets.

31



CONSOLIDATED RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

           
 FINANCIAL SUMMARY  
Three Months
Ended
September 30, 
 
Nine Months
Ended
September 30, 
 
(In millions)
 
2004
 
2003
 
2004
 
2003
 
     
(As Restated, See Note 3) 
 
Premiums and fees
 
$
3,615
 
$
3,841
 
$
10,746
 
$
11,615
 
Net investment income
   
340
   
623
   
1,298
   
1,949
 
Other revenues
   
513
   
260
   
1,343
   
616
 
Realized investment gains
   
11
   
49
   
447
   
127
 
Total revenues
   
4,479
   
4,773
   
13,834
   
14,307
 
Benefits and expenses
   
3,978
   
4,492
   
12,272
   
13,825
 
Income from continuing
   operations before taxes
   
501
   
281
   
1,562
   
482
 
Income taxes
   
189
   
86
   
545
   
155
 
Income from continuing
   operations
   
312
   
195
   
1,017
   
327
 
Income from discontinued
   operations
   
   
   
   
48
 
Income before cumulative effect
   of accounting change
   
312
   
195
   
1,017
   
375
 
Cumulative effect of accounting
   change, net of taxes (See Note
   2 to the Financial Statements)
   
   
   
(139
)
 
 
Net income
 
$
312
 
$
195
 
$
878
 
$
375
 
Realized investment gains,
   net of taxes
 
$
8
 
$
32
 
$
291
 
$
83
 

As discussed in Note 3 to the Financial Statements, CIGNA’s consolidated financial statements for all periods presented have been restated to reflect variable accounting for stock compensation expense in accordance with Accounting Principles Board (APB) No. 25. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations gives effect to these restatements in the Corporate Segment. For additional information, refer to Note 3 to the Financial Statements.

Income from continuing operations includes special items, which are discussed below. Excluding these special items, CIGNA’s results increased for the third quarter of 2004, compared with the same period last year, primarily due to higher earnings in the Health Care segment (see page 42 for discussion of the drivers of these results). Results for the nine months of 2004 also increased, compared with the same period last year, reflecting the immediate gain recognition associated with the sale of the retirement benefits business (see page 35), as well as higher earnings in the Health Care segment.

32




In order to facilitate an understanding and comparison of results of operations and permit analysis of trends in underlying revenues, expenses and income from continuing operations, the following table presents special items, which management believes are not representative of the underlying results of continuing operations.


           
SPECIAL ITEMS
 
(In millions)
 
Pre-Tax
Benefit
(Charge)
 
After-Tax
Benefit
(Charge)
 
Three Months Ended September 30,
         
2004
         
Accelerated recognition of deferred gain on sale of
  retirement benefits business (see page 35)
 
$
122
 
$
79
 
Net charge associated with modified coinsurance
  arrangements (see page 35)
   
(14
)
 
(9
)
Total
 
$
108
 
$
70
 
2003
             
Health care provider litigation
 
$
(57
)
$
(37
)
Intangible asset write-off for provider contracts
   
(16
)
 
(10
)
Gain on sale of Japanese pension operations
   
8
   
5
 
Restructuring items, net
   
1
   
1
 
Total
 
$
(64
)
$
(41
)
Nine Months Ended September 30,
             
2004
             
Accelerated recognition of deferred gain on sale of
   retirement benefits business (see page 35)
 
$
122
 
$
79
 
Restructuring charge (see page 36)
   
(75
)
 
(49
)
Net charge associated with modified coinsurance
   arrangements (see page 35)
   
(14
)
 
(9
)
Effect of new accounting pronouncement (see
   page 40)
   
(17
)
 
(11
)
Total
 
$
16
 
$
10
 
2003
             
Health care provider litigation
 
$
(57
)
$
(37
)
Intangible asset write-off for provider contracts
   
(16
)
 
(10
)
Reserve charge on certain specialty life
   reinsurance contracts
   
(441
)
 
(286
)
Gain on sale of Japanese pension operations
   
8
   
5
 
Restructuring items, net*
   
12
   
8
 
Total
 
$
(494
)
$
(320
)
 
Revenues

Revenues decreased for the third quarter and nine months of 2004 compared with the same periods last year primarily because of:

·  
lower premiums and fees in the Health Care segment primarily due to lower membership; and
·  
reduced net investment income primarily related to the sale of the retirement benefits business.
 
______________
* Restructuring items include a reduction of costs of $10 million after-tax ($15 million pre-tax) in the second quarter of 2003 associated with the 2002 health care restructuring program, charges of $9 million after-tax ($13 million pre-tax) in the second quarter of 2003 associated with restructuring certain corporate functions (see page 36), as well as gains on other postretirement benefits recognized through the nine months of 2003 in connection with the 2002 health care restructuring program.


33



These declines were partially offset by:

·  
gains in the third quarter and lower losses in the nine months of 2004, from futures and forward contracts entered in connection with the program to reduce equity market risks (see guaranteed minimum death benefit contracts on page 47); and
·  
recognition of deferred gain amortization associated with the sale of the retirement benefits business.

In addition, the decrease for the nine months of 2004 was also offset by:

·  
higher realized investment gains, primarily on assets transferred in connection with the sale of the retirement benefits business; and
·  
higher other revenues in the Run-off Retirement segment (see page 46).

Outlook for 2004 and 2005

Subject to the factors noted in the Cautionary Statement on page 60, management expects full year 2004 income from continuing operations excluding realized investment results and special items to be lower than the nine months of 2004 on an annualized basis. The Company’s full year consolidated outlook reflects lower earnings resulting from the sale of the retirement benefits business. In addition, CIGNA's outlook assumes that the recent level of favorable prior year claims development and certain favorable expense items included in Health Care segment earnings for the nine months of 2004 will not recur in the fourth quarter of 2004.

Information is not available for management to reasonably estimate for the remainder of 2004:

·  
realized investment gains (losses); or
·  
special items, including:
·  
any accelerated recognition of the deferred gain associated with the sale of the retirement benefits business (see below for additional information); and
·  
the impact of any ongoing volatility from certain modified coinsurance arrangements with the buyer of the retirement benefits business (see below).

Special items for the fourth quarter of 2004 will include the gain on sale of CIGNA's investment advisory businesses (see page 38).

Realized investment gains, net of taxes, were $8 million for the third quarter and $291 million for the nine months of 2004. The nine months of 2004 includes realized investment gains of $259 million after-tax related to the immediate gain recognition on the sale of the retirement benefits business. Realized investment results are not predictable and therefore these amounts are not necessarily indicative of full year results.

CIGNA expects full year 2005 income from continuing operations excluding realized investment results and special items to be lower than the comparable 2004 amount. In 2005, special items will include any additional accelerated gain recognition and any ongoing volatility from certain modified coinsurance arrangements, and may include charges incurred related to potential expense reduction initiatives.

Critical Accounting Estimates

The preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect reported amounts and related disclosures in the financial statements. Management considers an accounting estimate to be critical if:

·  
it requires assumptions to be made that were uncertain at the time the estimate was made; and
·  
changes in the estimate or different estimates that could have been selected could have a material impact on CIGNA’s consolidated results of operations or financial condition.

34



CIGNA’s most critical accounting estimates, as well as the effects of hypothetical changes in material assumptions used to develop each estimate, are described in CIGNA’s 2003 Annual Report to Shareholders as restated beginning on page 12 and include the following:

·  
future policy benefits - guaranteed minimum death benefits;
·  
unpaid claims and claim expenses for guaranteed cost and minimum premium programs and retrospectively experience-rated health care products;
·  
reinsurance recoverables for Run-off Reinsurance; and
·  
investments - recognition of losses from other- than-temporary impairments of public and private placement fixed maturities.

In addition, there are other accounting estimates used in the preparation of CIGNA’s consolidated financial statements, including estimates of liabilities for unpaid claims and claim expenses and future policy benefits other than those identified above, as well as estimates with respect to contracts that guarantee a minimum level of income benefits (see page 47 for further discussion), post-employment and postretirement benefits, certain compensation accruals and income taxes.

Management believes the current assumptions and other considerations used to estimate amounts reflected in CIGNA’s consolidated financial statements are appropriate. However, if actual experience differs from the assumptions and other considerations used in estimating amounts reflected in CIGNA’s consolidated financial statements, the resulting changes could have a material adverse effect on CIGNA’s consolidated results of operations, and in certain situations, could have a material adverse effect on liquidity and CIGNA’s financial condition.

SALE OF RETIREMENT BENEFITS BUSINESS

On April 1, 2004, CIGNA sold its retirement benefits business, excluding the corporate life insurance business, for cash proceeds of $2.1 billion. The sale resulted in an after-tax gain of $809 million, of which $267 million after-tax was recognized immediately. Of this amount, $259 million after-tax was recorded in realized investment gains and $8 million after-tax was recorded in other revenues.

As this transaction was primarily in the form of a reinsurance arrangement, $542 million of the after-tax gain was deferred and will be amortized over future periods at the rate that earnings from the sold business would have been expected to emerge (primarily over 15 years on a declining basis). CIGNA recognized normal gain amortization of $28 million pre-tax ($18 million after-tax) for the third quarter and $57 million pre-tax ($37 million after-tax) for the nine months of 2004 in other revenues in the Run-off Retirement segment. The sales agreement provides for post-closing adjustments; however, any future adjustments are not expected to be material to CIGNA's consolidated results of operations, liquidity or financial condition.

During the second and third quarters of 2004, the buyer of the retirement benefits business entered into agreements with some of the insured parties, relieving CIGNA of any remaining contractual obligations to those parties. As such agreements were entered into, CIGNA accelerated recognition of the deferred gain in other revenues by $122 million pre-tax ($79 million after-tax) for the third quarter and $126 million pre-tax ($82 million after-tax) for the nine months of 2004. CIGNA also reduced reinsurance recoverables, contractholder deposit funds and separate account balances for these obligations. Although CIGNA expects the majority of the insured parties to enter into these agreements during the next two years, the pace and amount of these agreements is unknown.

Upon closing the sale, CIGNA reinsured $16.0 billion of contractholder liabilities under an indemnity reinsurance arrangement and $35.3 billion of insurance, contractholder and separate account liabilities under modified coinsurance arrangements, including $32.0 billion in separate account liabilities. CIGNA also transferred $17.3 billion of invested assets along with other assets and liabilities.

At September 30, 2004, CIGNA had approximately $3.2 billion of invested assets, primarily fixed maturities and mortgage loans, supporting certain modified coinsurance arrangements with the buyer, of which $2.0 billion was held in a business trust established by CIGNA. CIGNA pays or receives cash quarterly to settle the results of the reinsured business, including the investment results of the assets underlying modified coinsurance arrangements. As a result of these modified coinsurance arrangements, CIGNA has embedded derivatives that transfer to the buyer certain unrealized changes in fair value due to interest rate and credit risks of these assets. CIGNA records these effects in other liabilities and other revenues. Decreases or significant increases in interest rates or credit risks could result in material volatility in CIGNA's consolidated net income into 2006. In the third quarter of 2004, CIGNA recorded a pre-tax charge for these effects of $14 million in other revenues. For the nine months of 2004, other revenues included a pre-tax benefit of $27 million for these effects and a related pre-tax charge of $41 million reflecting the amortization for the period of the excess of the fair value of related assets over the liabilities under these arrangements.

35



The modified coinsurance arrangement supported by the $2.0 billion business trust provides for conversion to an indemnity reinsurance structure. The buyer will assume ownership of the trust assets in 2006 unless the buyer elects termination, in which case CIGNA would retain the trust assets and the insurance liabilities. In the second quarter of 2004, CIGNA reclassified unrealized appreciation of $166 million after-tax from shareholders' equity to other liabilities for this modified coinsurance arrangement.

See Note 11 to the Financial Statements for additional information.
 
OTHER MATTERS

Restructuring Programs

Operational effectiveness review. In the first quarter of 2004, CIGNA adopted a restructuring program associated with planned organizational changes to streamline functional support resources and to adjust its operations to current business volumes. As a result, CIGNA recognized in other operating expenses a total after-tax charge of $49 million ($75 million pre-tax) primarily for severance costs. This charge was primarily related to the Health Care segment and Corporate.

In the second and third quarters of 2004, CIGNA recorded additional charges under this review for severance costs and costs associated with vacating certain leased facilities (see table below).

CIGNA continues to assess its operations under this review. The total of all charges is not expected to exceed $60 million after-tax for the full year of 2004. CIGNA estimates after-tax savings from the charges recorded through September 30, 2004 to be approximately $85 million annually.

36



The table below shows CIGNA’s restructuring activity (pre-tax) related to severance and real estate for this program:

               
(In millions)
 
Health Care/
Disability
and Life*
 
Corporate
 
Total
 
First quarter 2004 charge:
             
   Severance
 
$
39
 
$
31
 
$
70
 
   Real estate and other
   
5
   
   
5
 
      Total
   
44
   
31
   
75
 
First quarter 2004 payments:
                   
   Severance
   
(2
)
 
(4
)
 
(6
)
Balance as of March 31, 2004
   
42
   
27
   
69
 
Second quarter 2004 charge:
                   
   Severance
   
   
4
   
4
 
   Real estate and other
   
3
   
   
3
 
       Total
   
3
   
4
   
7
 
Second quarter 2004 payments:
           
   Severance
   
(10
)
 
(8
)
 
(18
)
   Real estate and other
   
(1
)
 
   
(1
)
Balance as of June 30, 2004
   
34
   
23
   
57
 
Third quarter 2004 charge:
                   
   Real estate and other
   
3
   
1
   
4
 
Third quarter 2004 payments:
           
   Severance
   
(7
)
 
(8
)
 
(15
)
   Real estate and other
   
(1
)
 
   
(1
)
Balance as of
   September 30, 2004
 
$
29
 
$
16
 
$
45
 


Corporate effectiveness initiative. In the second quarter of 2003, CIGNA adopted a restructuring program to attain certain operational efficiencies in its corporate staff functions and to achieve additional cost savings. As a result, CIGNA recognized in other operating expenses an after-tax charge in Corporate of $9 million ($13 million pre-tax) for severance costs. As of June 30, 2004, this program was substantially completed and is expected to result in annualized after-tax savings of approximately $15 million reflecting the elimination of salary and benefit costs for terminated employees.

Minimum Pension Liability

In connection with the sale of the retirement benefits business and the operational effectiveness review, CIGNA had a pension curtailment event. In addition, CIGNA completed the annual update of plan participant data in the second quarter of 2004 and a plan amendment in the third quarter of 2004.

As a result of the action taken in the third quarter of 2004, CIGNA remeasured the assets and obligations of its domestic qualified plans and increased equity by $21 million after-tax as compared to June 30, 2004. This change was primarily due to an increase in long-term interest rates (from 5.75% to 6.00%) used to determine the accumulated benefit obligation, partially offset by the effect of stock market depreciation on plan assets.

As a result of the actions taken through September 30, 2004, CIGNA decreased equity by $131 million after-tax as compared to December 31, 2003. This charge was primarily due to a reduction in long-term interest rates (from 6.25% to 6.00%), as well as the annual update of plan participant data, partially offset by the effect of stock market appreciation on plan assets.

Other Acquisitions and Dispositions

CIGNA may from time to time acquire or dispose of assets, subsidiaries or lines of business. Significant transactions, other than the sale of the retirement benefits business, are described below.
_________
* Includes first quarter 2004 restructuring charges of $2 million pre-tax in the Disability and Life segment.


37



Sale of investment advisory businesses. During the fourth quarter of 2004, CIGNA sold its fixed income investment advisory business and is expected to complete the sale of its equity investment advisory business. As a result in the fourth quarter of 2004, CIGNA expects to record an estimated after-tax gain of $15 million in the Other Operations segment.

Sale of Japanese pension operations. In the third quarter of 2003, CIGNA sold its interest in a Japanese pension operation for cash proceeds of $18 million and recognized an after-tax gain of $5 million. The gain was reported in the International segment in continuing operations since this operation was accounted for under the equity method of accounting.

Sale of Lovelace Health Systems, Inc. In the first quarter of 2003, CIGNA sold the operations of Lovelace, an integrated health care system, for cash proceeds of $209 million and recognized an after-tax gain of $32 million, which is reported in discontinued operations.

Sale of Brazilian Health Care Operations. In the first quarter of 2003, CIGNA sold its Brazilian health care operations. The sale generated an after-tax gain of $18 million, primarily as a result of the disposition of the net liabilities associated with these operations. The gain is reported in discontinued operations.

Regulatory and Industry Developments

Employee benefits regulation. The business of administering and insuring employee benefit programs, particularly health care programs, is heavily regulated by federal and state laws and administrative agencies, such as state departments of insurance and the federal Departments of Labor and Justice, as well as the courts. Regulation and judicial decisions have resulted in changes to industry and CIGNA’s business practices and will continue to do so in the future. In addition, CIGNA's subsidiaries are routinely involved with various claims, lawsuits and regulatory audits and investigations that could result in financial liability, changes in business practices, or both. Health care regulation in its various forms could have an adverse effect on CIGNA's health care operations if it inhibits CIGNA's ability to respond to market demands or results in increased medical or administrative costs without improving the quality of care or services. 

In the second quarter of 2004, the United States Supreme Court ruled in CIGNA's favor, in a case involving a CIGNA subsidiary, by ruling that the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) preempts a state law tort claim in circumstances involving a determination, based on medical judgment, that benefits were not covered. Under ERISA, plan participants have access to internal and external appeals processes to resolve coverage disputes and may bring action in the federal courts to resolve health care coverage issues.

The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA), the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act of 1999 and related regulations have created significant regulatory requirements related to, among other things, the privacy of individually identifiable health care information, electronic data interchange and the security of electronic health information. CIGNA has instituted systems enhancements and training, and has undertaken other administrative efforts to satisfy these requirements.

Other possible regulatory changes that could have an adverse effect on CIGNA’s employee benefits businesses include:

·  
additional mandated benefits or services that increase costs without improving the quality of care;
·  
legislation that would grant plan participants broader rights to sue their health plans;
·  
changes in ERISA regulations resulting in increased administrative burdens and costs;
·  
additional restrictions on the use of prescription drug formularies;
·  
additional privacy legislation and regulations that interfere with the proper use of medical information for research, coordination of medical care and disease and disability management;
·  
additional rules establishing the time periods for payment of health care provider claims that vary from state to state; and
·  
legislation that would exempt independent physicians from antitrust laws.

38



The employee benefits industry remains under scrutiny by various state and federal government agencies and could be subject to government efforts to bring criminal actions in circumstances that could previously have given rise only to civil or administrative proceedings.

Tax liability on policyholder surplus accounts. In October 2004, the American Jobs Creation Act of 2004 was enacted. The legislation suspends, for a two-year period commencing January 1, 2005, the tax liability of stock life insurance companies on distributions from the policyholder surplus account. As a result of this legislation, and subject to regulatory approval, CIGNA's principal subsidiary has the ability to distribute amounts from this account to the parent company without incurring federal income tax. For additional information, see Note 14 of CIGNA's 2003 Annual Report to Shareholders.

Litigation and other legal matters. In the first quarter of 2004, a Florida federal court handling multi-district health care litigation against CIGNA and several health care industry competitors approved a settlement agreement between the physician class and CIGNA, and dismissed all claims by class members against CIGNA. All appeals of the court’s approval have been withdrawn, which permits implementation of the settlement. The settlement resolves for CIGNA and the plaintiff class all physician claims reflected in the litigation.

In the third quarter of 2003, CIGNA recorded an after-tax charge of $37 million ($57 million pre-tax) to increase the reserve for this settlement and other non-physician provider health care litigation. CIGNA had previously recognized an after-tax charge of $50 million ($77 million pre-tax) in 2002 for expected costs associated with the multi-district litigation. The reserve reflects insurance recoveries.

During the second and third quarters of 2004, CIGNA, some of its competitors, insurance companies in other lines of business and certain insurance brokers received subpoenas from the New York Attorney General relating to his investigation of broker compensation. During the third quarter of 2004, the New York Attorney General broadened his investigation and brought suit against a large insurance broker, alleging that the broker sought rigged bids from, and steered business to, certain property and casualty insurers with whom it had contingent compensation arrangements. The Connecticut Attorney General opened a similar investigation and sent subpoenas to CIGNA and some of its competitors. Separately, class action lawyers filed two lawsuits against a different insurance broker and several group life, disability and accident insurance companies, including CIGNA subsidiaries, asserting among other things, that contingent commissions are unlawful. CIGNA is cooperating with the inquiries by the New York and Connecticut Attorneys General and disagrees with the assertions against it in the lawsuits.

During the third quarter of 2004, the New York Attorney General commenced a lawsuit against Express Scripts, Inc. and two CIGNA insurance companies. Under an agreement with the CIGNA companies, Express Scripts is responsible for administering the prescription drug benefit program under New York State’s principal employee health plan, the Empire Plan. The CIGNA companies insure the prescription drug benefit program and hold the contract with the New York State Department of Civil Service. The complaint primarily focuses on administration of the prescription drug benefit program.

In 2002, several purported class action lawsuits, as well as two shareholder derivative complaints nominally brought on behalf of CIGNA, were filed in federal court in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania against CIGNA and certain of its senior officers and directors. These suits allege securities law violations and breaches of fiduciary duty. Two other purported class action lawsuits asserting violations of ERISA were filed against CIGNA and certain officers in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania by individuals who seek to represent a class of participants in the CIGNA 401(k) Plan who allegedly suffered losses on investments in CIGNA stock.

During 2002, a Connecticut federal court certified a class action lawsuit against CIGNA and the CIGNA Pension Plan. The plaintiffs are participants in the Plan who earned certain Plan benefits prior to 1998. The plaintiffs allege, among other things, that the Plan violated ERISA by impermissibly conditioning certain post-1997 benefit accruals on the amount of pre-1998 benefit accruals, that these conditions are not adequately disclosed to Plan participants, and that the Plan’s cash balance formula discriminates against older employees.

See “Unicover and other run-off reinsurance” on page 49 for a description of legal matters arising out of the run-off reinsurance operations.

39




CIGNA is routinely involved in numerous claims, lawsuits, regulatory audits, investigations and other legal matters arising, for the most part, in the ordinary course of the business of administering and insuring employee benefit programs. An increasing number of claims are being made for substantial non-economic, extra-contractual or punitive damages. The outcome of litigation and other legal matters is always uncertain, and outcomes that are not justified by the evidence can occur. CIGNA believes that it has valid defenses to the legal matters pending against it and is defending itself vigorously. Nevertheless, it is possible that resolution of one or more of the legal matters currently pending or threatened could result in losses material to CIGNA’s consolidated results of operations, liquidity or financial condition.

Summary. The eventual effect on CIGNA of the changing environment in which it operates remains uncertain. For additional information on contingencies that could affect CIGNA’s results, see Note 13 to the Financial Statements.

Accounting Pronouncements

For information on recent accounting pronouncements, see Note 2 to the Financial Statements.

Segment Reporting

The impact of the restatement as discussed in Note 3 to the Financial Statements is included in Corporate and is not allocated to the operating segments.

In the second quarter of 2004, CIGNA completed the sale of its retirement benefits business and also realigned management responsibility for operations that provide case management and related services to workers’ compensation insurers and employers who self-fund workers’ compensation and disability benefits. To appropriately reflect the impact of these actions, CIGNA has changed its segment reporting, and prior periods have been reclassified to conform to this presentation:

·  
the sold retirement benefits business is reported in the Run-off Retirement segment;
·  
the corporate life insurance business (previously reported in the Retirement segment) was retained and is reported in Other Operations; and
·  
results from the disability and workers’ compensation case management activities (previously reported in the Health Care segment) are included in the Disability and Life segment.

Beginning in the second quarter of 2004, corporate overhead previously allocated to the sold retirement benefits business is reported in Corporate.

Operating segments generally reflect groups of related products, but the International segment is based on geography. CIGNA measures the financial results of its segments using “segment earnings,” which is defined as income (loss) from continuing operations before realized investment gains (losses).

40



HEALTH CARE 

           
FINANCIAL SUMMARY
 
Three Months
Ended
September 30,
 
Nine Months
Ended
September 30,
 
(In millions)
 
2004
 
2003
 
2004
 
2003
 
Premiums and fees
 
$
2,776
 
$
3,068
 
$
8,251
 
$
9,308
 
Net investment income
   
69
   
66
   
210
   
208
 
Other revenues
   
262
   
243
   
774
   
693
 
Segment revenues
   
3,107
   
3,377
   
9,235
   
10,209
 
Benefits and expenses
   
2,788
   
3,270
   
8,415
   
9,783
 
Income before taxes
   
319
   
107
   
820
   
426
 
Income taxes
   
113
   
37
   
287
   
156
 
Segment earnings
 
$
206
 
$
70
 
$
533
 
$
270
 
Realized investment
   gains, net of taxes
 
$
5
 
$
25
 
$
9
 
$
36
 
Special items (after-tax) included in
   segment earnings:
                 
Health care provider litigation
 
$
 
$
(37
)
$
 
$
(37
)
Intangible asset write-off for provider contracts
 
$
 
$
(10
)
$
 
$
(10
)
Restructuring charge
 
$
 
$
 
$
(28
)
$
 
Restructuring item
 
$
 
$
1
 
$
 
$
16
 

Results

Segment earnings increased for the third quarter and nine months of 2004, compared to the same periods last year, reflecting improvement in the experience-rated and guaranteed cost businesses, favorable prior year claims development and higher specialty health care results, partially offset by the impact of lower membership.

Medical membership decreased from September 30, 2003, due to a decline in new business sales and lower retention of existing accounts. These declines are attributable, in part, to CIGNA maintaining underwriting discipline in a competitive pricing environment, while continuing to work to reduce medical and operating expenses, which affects the competitiveness of CIGNA's health care products.
 
See the “Operational Improvement” section below for discussion of the key areas of focus in improving the results of the health care operations.
 
CIGNA reports the results of this segment in two parts, Health Maintenance Organization (HMO) and Indemnity operations. HMO includes medical managed care and specialty health care operations such as managed behavioral health, medical cost and utilization management, managed dental, managed pharmacy programs and pharmaceutical fulfillment services. Indemnity includes medical and dental indemnity, and group disability and life insurance products that were historically sold in connection with certain experience-rated medical accounts and continue to be managed by the health care business.

41



Segment earnings for the HMO and Indemnity operations were as follows:

           
   
Three Months
Ended
September 30,
 
Nine Months
Ended
September 30,
 
(In millions)
 
2004
 
2003
 
2004
 
2003
 
HMO operations
 
$
131
 
$
87
 
$
418
 
$
262
 
Indemnity operations
   
75
   
(17
)
 
115
   
8
 
Total
 
$
206
 
$
70
 
$
533
 
$
270
 
Total special items (after-tax)
   for HMO and Indemnity
   operations:
                         
HMO operations
 
$
 
$
(28
)
$
(3
)
$
(20
)
Indemnity operations
 
$
 
$
(18
)
$
(25
)
$
(11
)

HMO results, excluding the special items noted above, increased for the third quarter and nine months of 2004, compared with the same periods last year, primarily due to:

·  
favorable prior year claims development compared to unfavorable development in the same period last year;
·  
underlying improvement in the Commercial HMO medical cost ratio reflecting strong pricing and underwriting execution as well as solid medical management results; and
·  
higher earnings in specialty health care operations.

These factors were partially offset by the impact of membership declines.

Indemnity results, excluding the special items noted above, improved for the third quarter and nine months of 2004, compared with the same periods last year, because of strong pricing and underwriting execution, as well as improved medical cost management in the experience-rated and guaranteed cost businesses.

These increases were partially offset by the impact of membership declines in all businesses.

Premiums and Fees

Premiums and fees decreased for the third quarter and nine months of 2004, compared with the same periods last year, because of membership declines partially offset by rate increases.

Premiums and fees by funding arrangement type were as follows:
 
           
   
Three Months
Ended
September 30,
 
Nine Months
Ended
September 30,
 
(In millions)
 
2004
 
2003
 
2004
 
2003
 
Guaranteed cost
 
$
1,344
 
$
1,496
 
$
4,075
 
$
4,582
 
Experience-rated
   
1,084
   
1,159
   
3,087
   
3,466
 
Administrative services only
   
348
   
413
   
1,089
   
1,260
 
Total premiums and fees
 
$
2,776
 
$
3,068
 
$
8,251
 
$
9,308
 




42


Experience-rated premiums and fees include amounts associated with minimum premium funding arrangements because the risk profiles are similar. See page 11 of CIGNA's 2003 Form 10-K as originally filed for a description of funding arrangement types.

Medical Membership

As of September 30, medical membership was as follows for the HMO and Indemnity operations:

     
(In millions)
2004
2003
HMO
5.5
6.2
Indemnity (estimated)
4.4
5.6

The decline in HMO medical membership is primarily due to lower case retention and lower new sales in both Commercial HMO plans and HMO ASO programs.

The decline in Indemnity medical membership primarily reflects cancellations of and lower new sales in Preferred Provider Organization (PPO) plans.

Operational Improvement

CIGNA continues to focus on improving operational effectiveness and the financial results of its health care operations. Key areas of focus are:

·  
lowering medical cost trends;
·  
continuing to deliver quality member service;
·  
lowering administrative expenses; and
·  
improving medical membership results.

Lowering medical cost trend. In early 2003, CIGNA implemented a new centralized medical management model to help facilitate consistent levels of care for its members and to reduce infrastructure expenses. As a result of solid execution of CIGNA's medical management model, inpatient utilization rates, particularly in the Commercial HMO line of business, continued to decline through the nine months of 2004.

CIGNA is working to reduce its medical cost trend by managing unit medical costs more effectively. To help achieve this end, CIGNA continues to focus on renegotiating contracts with certain facilities to limit increases in medical reimbursement costs.

Continuing to deliver quality member service. During 2002, CIGNA began transitioning to a new service and systems platform to improve the level and quality of service to its customers. Approximately 70% of health care members were served on this new platform by September 30, 2004. Satisfaction rates for new and existing customers who have moved to this new platform have been steadily improving, with the most recent survey suggesting satisfaction rates in the mid-90% range. Migration to this new platform will continue through early 2006.

Lowering administrative expenses. Early in 2004, CIGNA took additional steps to realign its organization and consolidate support functions in an effort to increase efficiency and responsiveness to customers. Reducing costs and operating more efficiently are components of CIGNA’s plan to improve profitability. See page 36 for further discussion of charges recorded through the nine months of 2004 related to this matter. CIGNA continues to perform operational reviews in order to identify additional cost savings.

Improving medical membership results. CIGNA is working to improve medical membership with:

·  
a diverse product portfolio;
·  
consistent member service delivery;

43



·  
competitive provider networks;
·  
strong clinical quality in medical, specialty health care and disability management; and
·  
an effective suite of customer and provider tools;

and by making progress on the other operational improvements described above. In addition, CIGNA believes that its medical management model, focus on clinical quality and ability to integrate health and related benefit solutions position the company to improve membership results.

DISABILITY AND LIFE
 
                   
FINANCIAL SUMMARY
 
Three Months
Ended
September 30,
 
Nine Months
Ended
September 30,
 
(In millions)
 
2004
 
2003
 
2004
 
2003
 
Premiums and fees
 
$
479
 
$
439
 
$
1,425
 
$
1,294
 
Net investment income
   
62
   
60
   
186
   
181
 
Other revenues
   
53
   
48
   
153
   
149
 
Segment revenues
   
594
   
547
   
1,764
   
1,624
 
Benefits and expenses
   
534
   
496
   
1,585
   
1,466
 
Income before taxes
   
60
   
51
   
179
   
158
 
Income taxes
   
19
   
14
   
51
   
42
 
Segment earnings
 
$
41
 
$
37
 
$
128
 
$
116
 
Realized investment gains,
   net of taxes
 
$
3
 
$
19
 
$
4
 
$
41
 
Special item (after-tax)
   included in segment
   earnings:
                         
Restructuring items, net
 
$
 
$
 
$
(1
)
$
1
 

The Disability and Life segment includes group accident and specialty association business in addition to its disability and life insurance products.

Results

Disability and Life segment earnings increased for the third quarter and nine months of 2004, primarily reflecting:

·  
favorable mortality experience in the life insurance business;
·  
reduced operating expenses due to restructuring-related actions and improved expense management; and
·  
higher premiums and fees in the disability and life insurance businesses.

These factors were partially offset by lower results in the accident and specialty association businesses.

Premiums and Fees

Premiums and fees increased for the third quarter and nine months of 2004 compared to the same periods last year primarily reflecting higher new business and strong customer retention in both life and disability products.

44



INTERNATIONAL 
 
                   
FINANCIAL SUMMARY
 
Three Months
Ended
September 30,
 
Nine Months
Ended
September 30,
 
(In millions)
 
2004
 
2003
 
2004
 
2003
 
Premiums and fees
 
$
254
 
$
215
 
$
745
 
$
636
 
Net investment income
   
16
   
10
   
42
   
36
 
Other revenues
   
(2
)
 
11
   
3
   
12
 
Segment revenues
   
268
   
236
   
790
   
684
 
Benefits and expenses
   
233
   
206
   
701
   
621
 
Income before taxes
   
35
   
30
   
89
   
63
 
Income taxes
   
12
   
10
   
31
   
22
 
Segment earnings
 
$
23
 
$
20
 
$
58
 
$
41
 
Realized investment gains,
   net of taxes
 
$
 
$
 
$
1
 
$
5
 
Special item included in
   segment earnings:
                         
Gain on sale of Japanese
   pension operations
 
$
 
$
5
 
$
 
$
5
 

Results

International segment earnings increased for the third quarter and nine months of 2004, compared with the same periods last year, primarily due to:

·  
strong revenue growth in the life, accident and health insurance business, particularly in Korea;
·  
favorable prior year claims development in the expatriate employee benefits business; and
·  
the positive impact of the divestiture of non-strategic businesses.

Premiums and Fees

Premiums and fees increased for the third quarter and nine months of 2004 compared to the same periods last year reflecting:

·  
sales growth in the life, accident and health insurance operations, particularly in Korea; and
·  
higher premiums and fees for the expatriate employee benefit business principally resulting from membership growth.

45



RUN-OFF RETIREMENT 


                   
FINANCIAL SUMMARY
 
Three Months
Ended
September 30,
 
Nine Months
Ended
September 30,
 
(In millions)
 
2004
 
2003
 
2004
 
2003
 
Premiums and fees
 
$
59
 
$
67
 
$
175
 
$
202
 
Net investment income
   
53
   
339
   
424
   
1,072
 
Other revenues
   
135
   
   
347
   
 
Segment revenues
   
247
   
406
   
946
   
1,274
 
Benefits and expenses
   
114
   
338
   
741
   
1,070
 
Income before taxes
   
133
   
68
   
205
   
204
 
Income taxes
   
43
   
18
   
59
   
57
 
Segment earnings
 
$
90
 
$
50
 
$
146
 
$
147
 
Realized investment gains,
   net of taxes
 
$
1
 
$
11
 
$
268
 
$
15
 
Special items (after-tax) included in
   segment earnings:
                 
Accelerated recognition of
   deferred gain on sale of
   retirement benefits
   business
 
$
79
 
$
 
$
79
 
$
 
Net charge associated with
   modified coinsurance
   arrangements
 
$
(9
)
$
 
$
(9
)
$
 
Effect of new accounting
   pronouncement (see Note
   2 to the Financial
   Statements)
 
$
 
$
 
$
(11
)
$
 

Segment earnings for Run-off Retirement include:
 
·  
gain recognition related to the sale of the retirement benefits business;
·  
net results of modified coinsurance arrangements;
·  
expenses associated with the run-off of this business; and
·  
results of the retirement benefits business prior to the sale.

Beginning in the second quarter of 2004, premiums and fees and net investment income represent amounts associated with the portion of the retirement benefits business reinsured under modified coinsurance arrangements and are offset by amounts included in benefits and expenses.

Results

Run-off Retirement segment earnings include the special items noted in the table above. Excluding these items, segment earnings decreased for the third quarter and nine months of 2004, compared with the same periods last year primarily due to the sale of the retirement benefits business, partially offset by the recognition of normal deferred gain amortization. In addition, the decrease for the nine months of 2004 includes higher compensation and related benefit expenses to retain key employees associated with the sold business.

Other Revenues

Other revenues include:

·  
normal deferred gain amortization of $28 million pre-tax for the third quarter and $57 million pre-tax for the nine months of 2004;
·  
accelerated gain amortization of $122 million pre-tax for the third quarter and $126 million pre-tax (of which $122 million pre-tax is noted as a special item) for the nine months of 2004 as described on page 26;

46



·  
a net charge associated with modified coinsurance arrangements; and
·  
beginning October 1, 2003, through the sale of the retirement benefits business on April 1, 2004, other revenues also included changes in fair value of securities supporting experience-rated pension policyholder contracts. Under the experience-rating process, gains and losses on assets related to these contracts generally accrued to policyholders and were offset by amounts included in benefits and expenses.

RUN-OFF REINSURANCE 
 
           
FINANCIAL SUMMARY
 
Three Months
Ended
September 30,
 
Nine Months
Ended
September 30,
 
(In millions)
 
2004
 
2003
 
2004
 
2003
 
Premiums and fees
 
$
16
 
$
21
 
$
56
 
$
58
 
Net investment income
   
22
   
22
   
70
   
57
 
Other revenues
   
34
   
(72
)
 
(24
)
 
(327
)
Segment revenues
   
72
   
(29
)
 
102
   
(212
)
Benefits and expenses
   
125
   
1
   
183
   
299
 
Loss before income tax
   benefits
   
(53
)
 
(30
)
 
(81
)
 
(511
)
Income taxes (benefits)
   
1
   
(10
)
 
(4
)
 
(170
)
Segment loss
 
$
(54
)
$
(20
)
$
(77
)
$
(341
)
Realized investment gains,
   net of taxes
 
$
2
 
$
4
 
$
 
$
13
 
Special item (after-tax)
   included in segment loss:
                         
Reserve charge on
   guaranteed minimum
   death benefit contracts
 
$
 
$
 
$
 
$
(286
)

 
Results

Segment loss for the Run-off Reinsurance segment was lower for the nine months of 2004, compared with the same period last year, primarily because of the 2003 reserve charge for guaranteed minimum death benefit contracts. Excluding this special item, segment loss increased for the third quarter and nine months of 2004 resulting from reserve increases of $48 million after-tax in the workers’ compensation and personal accident businesses.

Other Revenues

CIGNA maintains a program to substantially reduce the equity market exposures relating to guaranteed minimum death benefit contracts by entering into exchange-traded futures contracts and foreign currency forward contracts (see below). Other revenues included a pre-tax gain of $33 million for the third quarter and pre-tax losses of $27 million for the nine months of 2004, and pre-tax losses of $70 million for the third quarter and $326 million for the nine months of 2003 from these contracts. Expense offsets reflecting corresponding changes in liabilities for these guaranteed minimum death benefit contracts were included in benefits, losses and settlement expenses.

Other Matters

Guaranteed minimum death benefit contracts. CIGNA’s reinsurance operations, which were discontinued in 2000 and are now an inactive business in run-off mode, reinsured a guaranteed minimum death benefit under certain variable annuities issued by other insurance companies. These variable annuities are essentially investments in mutual funds combined with a death benefit. CIGNA has equity market exposures as a result of this product.

As a result of equity market declines and volatility early in the third quarter of 2002, CIGNA evaluated alternatives for addressing the exposures associated with these reinsurance contracts, considering the possibility of continued depressed equity market conditions, the potential effects of further equity market declines and the impact on future earnings and capital. As a result of this evaluation, CIGNA implemented a program to substantially reduce the equity market exposures of this business by selling exchange-traded futures contracts, which are expected to rise in value as the equity market declines and decline in value as the equity market rises. In the second quarter of 2003, CIGNA began using foreign-denominated, exchange-traded futures contracts and foreign currency forward contracts to reduce international equity market risks associated with this business.

47



CIGNA expects to adjust the futures and forward contract positions and may enter into other contract positions over time, to reflect changing equity market levels and changes in the investment mix of the underlying variable annuity investments. For further information and details on these contracts and the program adopted to reduce related equity market risk, refer to Note 5 of CIGNA's 2003 Annual Report to Shareholders.

The determination of reserves for guaranteed minimum death benefits requires CIGNA to make critical accounting estimates. CIGNA describes the assumptions used to develop the reserves for these death benefits, and provides the effects of hypothetical changes in those assumptions on page 17 of CIGNA’s 2003 Annual Report to Shareholders. CIGNA regularly evaluates the assumptions used in establishing reserves and changes its estimates if actual experience or other evidence suggests that earlier assumptions should be revised. If actual experience differs from the assumptions and other considerations (including lapse, partial surrender, mortality, interest rates and volatility) used in estimating these reserves, the resulting change could have a material adverse effect on CIGNA’s consolidated results of operations, and in certain situations, could have a material adverse effect on CIGNA’s financial condition. During the third quarter of 2004, CIGNA completed its normal quarterly review of assumptions and emerging experience and recorded a net after-tax charge of $1 million. See Note 6 to the Financial Statements for additional information about these assumptions.

In the second quarter of 2003, CIGNA recognized an after-tax charge to increase reserves related to these guaranteed minimum death benefit contracts of $286 million ($441 million pre-tax) following an analysis of experience and reserve assumptions relating to these reserves.

Prior to the second quarter of 2003, CIGNA's experience of partial surrenders under its guaranteed minimum death benefit contracts was not sufficient to support an explicit reserve assumption. Separately, from mid-2002 through the first quarter of 2003, CIGNA experienced continued adverse mortality development under these contracts. During the second quarter of 2003, CIGNA conducted a special review of the emerging partial surrender activity to determine if sufficient credible data existed for an explicit reserve assumption. The review also included a detailed study of other reserve assumptions, including mortality, to validate the cause of the adverse experience and to determine whether or not long-term mortality expectations should be changed.
 
As a result of the review, CIGNA recorded the after- tax charge of $286 million referenced above consisting of the following:

·  
$169 million for the addition of an explicit assumption for both actual and projected future partial surrenders. This estimate is based on annual election rates that vary depending on the net amount at risk for each policy (see Note 6 for more information);
·  
$56 million primarily reflecting refinements to assumptions relating to the timing of lapses, death benefits and premiums to better reflect CIGNA's experience;
·  
$39 million due to higher assumed mortality reflecting adverse experience based on annuitant deaths during the period from late 2000 into 2003; and
·  
$22 million resulting from a decrease in assumed mean investment performance reflecting experience and future expectations based on history for similar investments and considering CIGNA's program to reduce equity market exposures.

In the third quarter of 2002, CIGNA recognized an after-tax charge of $720 million ($1.1 billion pre-tax) to strengthen reserves related to these guaranteed minimum death benefit contracts and to adopt the program described above to substantially reduce equity market risks related to these contracts.

48



The $720 million after-tax charge consisted of:

·  
$580 million, reflecting the reduction in assumed future equity market returns as a result of implementing the program. CIGNA determines liabilities under the reinsurance contracts using an assumption for expected future performance of equity markets. A consequence of implementing the program is, effectively, a reduction in the assumption for expected future performance of equity markets, as the futures contracts essentially eliminate the opportunity to achieve previously expected market returns;
·  
$100 million, reflecting deterioration in equity markets that occurred in the third quarter of 2002 (prior to implementation of the program); and
·  
$40 million, driven by changes for the following:

·  
lower assumed lapse rates based on expectations that lower surrenders will occur due to increased death benefits resulting from stock market declines;
·  
higher assumed mortality based on experience since mid-2001;
·  
higher assumed market volatility, based on recent experience and expected higher S&P 500 volatility; and
·  
a lower assumed discount rate to reflect anticipated funding of the reserve increase at yields lower than the existing assumption.

CIGNA had future policy benefit reserves for these guaranteed minimum death benefit contracts of approximately $1.1 billion as of September 30, 2004 and $1.2 billion as of December 31, 2003.

As of September 30, 2004, the aggregate fair value of the underlying mutual fund investments was approximately $44.3 billion. The death benefit coverage in force as of that date (representing the amount that CIGNA would have to pay if all 1.2 million contractholders had died on that date) was approximately $11.6 billion. The death benefit coverage in force represents the excess of the guaranteed benefit amount over the fair value of the underlying mutual fund investments. The notional or face amount of the futures and forward contract positions held by CIGNA at September 30, 2004, was $1.6 billion.

Guaranteed minimum income benefit contracts. CIGNA has also written reinsurance contracts with issuers of variable annuity contracts that provide annuitants with certain guarantees related to minimum income benefits. See page 56 for further information.

Unicover and other run-off reinsurance. The Run-off Reinsurance operations participate in a workers’ compensation reinsurance pool, which ceased accepting new risks in early 1999. This pool was formerly managed by Unicover Managers, Inc. Although an arbitration over the most significant reinsurance (retrocessional) contracts for the pool was completed in 2002, some disputes over collection of amounts due CIGNA from the retrocessionaires continue and may require further arbitration actions to resolve. Also, disputes and arbitrations regarding other reinsurance (retrocessional) contracts for the pool remain and may not be resolved for some time.

Run-off Reinsurance also includes other workers’ compensation reinsurance contracts, as well as personal accident reinsurance contracts, including contracts assumed in the London market. CIGNA obtained retrocessional reinsurance coverage for a significant portion of its liabilities under these contracts. Some of these retrocessionaires have disputed the validity of their contracts with CIGNA and arbitration over some of these disputes has commenced. CIGNA also bears the risk of the financial condition of its retrocessionaires and their ability to meet their reinsurance obligations to CIGNA.

The retrocessional disputes are not expected to be resolved for some time. In addition, unfavorable claims experience related to workers’ compensation and personal accident exposures is possible and could result in future losses, including losses attributable to the inability to recover amounts from retrocessionaires (either due to disputes with the retrocessionaires or their financial condition).

49



Summary. CIGNA’s reserves for amounts recoverable from retrocessionaires, as well as for reserves for liabilities associated with underlying reinsurance exposures assumed by CIGNA, are considered appropriate as of September 30, 2004, based on current information. However, it is possible that future developments could have a material adverse effect on CIGNA’s consolidated results of operations and, in certain situations, could have a material adverse effect on CIGNA’s financial condition.

OTHER OPERATIONS

           
FINANCIAL SUMMARY
 
Three Months
Ended
September 30,
 
Nine Months
Ended 
September 30,
 
(In millions)
 
2004
 
2003
 
2004
 
2003
 
Premiums and fees
 
$
31
 
$
31
 
$
94
 
$
117
 
Net investment income
   
114
   
126
   
358
   
395
 
Other revenues
   
35
   
48
   
124
   
142
 
Segment revenues
   
180
   
205
   
576
   
654
 
Benefits and expenses
   
145
   
163
   
485
   
525
 
Income before taxes
   
35
   
42
   
91
   
129
 
Income taxes
   
12
   
15
   
32
   
46
 
Segment earnings
 
$
23
 
$
27
 
$
59
 
$
83
 
Realized investment gains
   (losses), net of taxes
 
$
(3
)
$
(27
)
$
9
 
$
(27
)

Other Operations consist of:

·  
deferred gains recognized from the 1998 sale of the individual life insurance and annuity business;
·  
corporate life insurance;
·  
leveraged corporate life insurance (corporate life insurance on which policy loans are outstanding);
·  
settlement annuity business; and
·  
certain investment management services.

Results

Segment earnings for Other Operations declined for the third quarter of 2004 compared to the same periods last year primarily due to:
·  
higher severance and employee retention costs associated with the investment advisory business; and
·  
lower earnings in the corporate life insurance business primarily due to less favorable mortality experience.

The decline for the nine months of 2004 also reflects:
·  
higher severance and employee retention costs associated with the investment operations supporting the sold retirement benefits business;
·  
lower earnings from certain investment management services; and
·  
lower earnings in the individual life insurance and annuity business as a result of an increase to litigation reserves and lower amortized gains.

50



Other Matters

Tax benefits for corporate life insurance. Federal legislation in 1996 eliminated on a prospective basis the tax deductibility of policy loan interest for most leveraged corporate life insurance products, and an Internal Revenue Service initiative in 2001 encouraged policyholders to settle tax disputes regarding these products. As a result, some customers have surrendered their policies and management expects earnings associated with these products to continue to decline.

CORPORATE

           
FINANCIAL SUMMARY
 
Three Months
Ended
September 30,
 
Nine Months
Ended
September 30,
 
(In millions)
 
2004
 
2003
 
2004
 
2003
 
Segment loss (as restated)
 
$
(25
)
$
(21
)
$
(121
)
$
(72
)
Special item (after-tax)
   included in segment loss:
                         
Restructuring charge
 
$
 
$
 
$
(20
)
$
(9
)

Corporate reflects amounts not allocated to segments, such as stock option expense, interest expense on corporate debt, net investment income on unallocated investments, intersegment eliminations and certain corporate overhead expenses.

The loss for the third quarter and nine months of 2004, compared with the same periods last year reflects higher stock option expense, interest income and curtailment gains for other postretirement benefits associated with CIGNA's operational effectiveness review, partially offset by the inclusion of overhead costs previously allocated to the sold retirement benefits business.

The loss for nine months of 2004 also reflects higher restructuring charges and costs associated with retiring $76 million of long-term debt (see Contractual obligations on page 56 for additional information).

Management expects to eliminate the excess overhead previously allocated to the sold retirement benefits business from its operations by year end 2004 through restructuring actions and other cost reduction initiatives.

DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS


       
FINANCIAL SUMMARY
 
(In millions)
 
Nine Months
Ended
September 30, 2003
 
Revenues
 
$
 
Loss before income tax benefits
 
$
(3
)
Income tax benefits
   
(1
)
Loss from operations
   
(2
)
Gains on sales, net of taxes of $25
   
50
 
Income from discontinued operations
 
$
48
 

Results from discontinued operations primarily consist of after-tax gains on sales of businesses (see page 37 for additional information).

51



LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES

Liquidity

CIGNA normally meets its operating requirements by:

·  
maintaining appropriate levels of liquidity in its investment portfolio;
·  
using cash flows from operating activities; and
·  
matching investment maturities to the estimated duration of the related insurance and contractholder liabilities.

Cash flows from continuing operations for the nine months ended September 30, 2004 are as follows:

           
(In millions)
 
2004
 
2003
 
Operating activities
 
$
1,181
 
$
841
 
Investing activities
 
$
1,657
 
$
158
 
Financing activities
 
$
(1,305
)
$
(613
)

Cash and cash equivalents increased $1.5 billion in 2004 and $386 million in 2003. Cash flows from operating activities consist of cash receipts and disbursements for premiums and fees, gains (losses) recognized in connection with CIGNA's program to manage equity market risk related to reinsured guaranteed minimum death benefit contracts, investment income, taxes, and benefits, losses and expenses.

2004: 

·  
The increase in cash flows from operating activities primarily reflects 2004 net proceeds from sales and maturities of securities supporting experience-rated pension policyholder contracts of $1.0 billion. The classification of such proceeds as operating began in the fourth quarter of 2003; accordingly there was no comparable amount for the nine months of 2003. Such proceeds were used to fund most of the 2004 withdrawals from contractholder deposit funds discussed below under financing. In addition, CIGNA reported lower losses in 2004 compared with 2003 of $299 million associated with futures and forward contracts entered into as part of a program to manage equity market risks in the Run-off Reinsurance segment. Partially offsetting these items were tax payments in 2004 of $543 million (primarily related to the sale of the retirement benefits business) compared with tax refunds in 2003 of $326 million (primarily reflecting loss carrybacks attributable to net losses reported in 2002), and payment of $70 million related to the provider class action litigation (charges reported in prior years).
·  
Cash provided by investing activities primarily consisted of proceeds from the sale of the retirement benefits business of $2.1 billion, partially offset by net purchases of investments ($390 million), and net purchases of property and equipment ($32 million).
·  
Cash used in financing activities consisted primarily of repurchase of and payments of dividends on common stock ($580 million), net withdrawals from contractholder deposit funds ($673 million) and repayment of debt ($76 million).

2003:

·  
Cash provided by investing activities consisted primarily of proceeds on sale of businesses ($227 million) and net sales and maturities of investments ($14 million), partially offset by net purchases of property and equipment ($67 million).
·  
Cash used in financing activities consisted of payments of dividends on common stock ($139 million), net withdrawals from contractholder deposit funds ($344 million) and repayment of debt ($130 million).

52



Capital Resources

CIGNA’s capital resources (primarily retained earnings and the proceeds from the issuance of long-term debt and equity securities) provide protection for policyholders, furnish the financial strength to underwrite insurance risks and facilitate continued business growth.

Senior management, guided by regulatory requirements and rating agency capital guidelines, determines the amount of capital resources that CIGNA maintains. Management allocates resources to new long-term business commitments when returns, considering the risks, look promising and when the resources available to support existing business are adequate.
 
With the net proceeds from the sale of the retirement benefits business and dividends from its subsidiaries, CIGNA expects to continue to:

·  
provide capital necessary to support growth and maintain or improve the financial strength ratings of subsidiaries;
·  
maintain at least $500 million of uncommitted cash at the parent company level through 2004; and
·  
return capital to investors through share repurchase.

Upon closing the sale of the retirement benefits business, CIGNA reinitiated its share repurchase program and actively began repurchasing shares. From July 1, 2004 through November 2, 2004, CIGNA repurchased 3.7 million shares through this program at an average price of $67.15 per share for an aggregate cost of $249 million. On July 28, 2004, CIGNA's Board of Directors increased the share repurchase authorization by an additional $500 million. The total remaining authorization as of November 2, 2004, was $538 million.

See also the table in Part II, Item 2 of CIGNA's Form 10-Q for more information on share repurchase activity for the third quarter ended September 30, 2004.

On October 27, 2004, CIGNA's Board of Directors authorized the retirement of 116 million shares of treasury stock. This transaction will have no net impact on CIGNA's shareholders’ equity.

CIGNA has $500 million remaining under an effective shelf registration statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, which may be issued as debt securities, equity securities or both. Management and the Board of Directors will consider market conditions and internal capital requirements when deciding whether CIGNA should issue new securities.

In May 2004, CIGNA entered into a three-year syndicated revolving credit and letter of credit agreement for $1.0 billion. Of this amount, up to $600 million may be used to support an internal reinsurance arrangement and the remaining portion will serve as an available line of credit commitment for CIGNA.

Liquidity and Capital Resources Outlook

The availability of resources at the parent/holding company level is dependent on dividends from CIGNA’s subsidiaries, most of which are subject to regulatory restrictions and rating agency capital guidelines. CIGNA expects, based on current projections for cash activity (including projections for dividends from subsidiaries), to have sufficient resources to:

·  
provide any funding to subsidiaries needed to support growth and maintain or improve their financial strength ratings;
·  
provide for the capital requirements of its subsidiaries;
·  
meet debt service requirements and pay dividends to CIGNA shareholders;
·  
satisfy pension plan funding requirements; and
·  
fund CIGNA's program to reduce the equity market risks associated with guaranteed minimum death benefit contracts.

53



However, if CIGNA's projections are not realized, the demand for funds could exceed available cash if:

·  
management uses cash for investment opportunities;
·  
a substantial insurance or contractholder liability becomes due before related investment assets mature; or
·  
regulatory restrictions prevent the insurance and HMO subsidiaries from distributing cash.

In those cases, CIGNA has the flexibility to satisfy liquidity needs through short-term borrowings, such as a line of credit.

Ratings

CIGNA and certain of its insurance subsidiaries are rated by nationally recognized rating agencies. Ratings are always subject to change and there can be no assurance that CIGNA’s current ratings will continue for any given period of time. As of November 2, 2004, the ratings of CIGNA and CG Life (CIGNA's principal subsidiary) were as follows:

     
 
CG Life Insurance Ratings
CIGNA Corporation
Debt Ratings
   
Senior Debt
Commercial
Paper
A.M. Best
A-
Moody’s
A3
Baa3
P3
S&P
A-
BBB
A2
Fitch
A
BBB
F2

CIGNA is committed to maintaining appropriate levels of capital in its subsidiaries to support ratings that meet customers’ expectations, and to improving the earnings of the health care business. Ratings downgrades of CG Life could adversely affect new sales and retention of current business. Lower ratings at the parent company level would increase the cost to borrow funds.

Guarantees and Contractual Obligations

CIGNA, through its subsidiaries, is contingently liable for various financial guarantees provided and contractual obligations entered into in the ordinary course of business.

Financial guarantees primarily associated with the retirement benefits business. Separate account assets, primarily associated with the sold retirement benefits business, are contractholder funds maintained in accounts with specific investment objectives. CIGNA records separate account liabilities equal to separate account assets. In certain cases, CIGNA guarantees a minimum level of benefits for retirement and insurance contracts written in separate accounts. CIGNA establishes an additional liability if management believes that CIGNA will be required to make a payment under these guarantees. Except as noted below, these guarantees are fully reinsured by an affiliate of the buyer:

·  
CIGNA guarantees that separate account assets will be sufficient to pay certain retiree or life benefits. The sponsoring employers are primarily responsible for ensuring that assets are sufficient to pay these benefits and are required to maintain assets that exceed a certain percentage of benefit obligations. This percentage varies depending on the asset class within a sponsoring employer’s portfolio (for example, a bond fund would require a lower percentage than a riskier equity fund) and thus will vary as the composition of the portfolio changes. If employers do not maintain the required levels of separate account assets, CIGNA has the right to redirect the management of the related assets to provide for benefit payments. As of September 30, 2004, employers maintained assets that exceeded 102% to 132% of benefit obligations. Benefit obligations under these arrangements were $3.4 billion as of September 30, 2004 and $3.5 billion as of December 31, 2003. As of September 30, 2004, approximately 90% of these guarantees are reinsured by an affiliate of the buyer of the retirement benefits business. There were no additional liabilities required for these guarantees as of September 30, 2004, or December 31, 2003.

54



·  
For certain employer-sponsored savings and retirement plans, CIGNA guarantees that participants will receive the value of their accounts at the time of withdrawal. These guarantees could require payment by CIGNA in the event that a significant number of plan participants withdraw their accounts when the market value of the related separate account assets is less than plan participant account values at the time of withdrawal. Participant account values under these arrangements are invested primarily in fixed income investments and were $2.0 billion as of September 30, 2004, and December 31, 2003. There were no additional liabilities required for these guarantees as of September 30, 2004, or December 31, 2003.

·  
CIGNA guarantees a minimum level of earnings (based on investment, mortality and retirement experience) for a certain group annuity contract. If the actual investment return is less than the minimum guaranteed level, CIGNA is required to fund the difference. The guaranteed benefit obligation was $303 million as of September 30, 2004, and $304 million as of December 31, 2003. CIGNA had additional liabilities for this guarantee of $16 million as of September 30, 2004, and $15 million as of December 31, 2003. In addition, CIGNA guarantees that separate account assets will be sufficient to pay retiree benefits for these group annuity participants. This guaranteed benefit obligation was $367 million as of September 30, 2004 and $371 million as of December 31, 2003. There were no additional liabilities required for this guarantee as of September 30, 2004 or December 31, 2003.

Other financial guarantees. CIGNA guaranteed construction loans of $26 million as of September 30, 2004, and December 31, 2003, related to real estate joint venture investments. The loans are secured by joint venture real estate property with fair values in excess of the loan amounts and mature by 2008, including extension options. CIGNA would be required to repay the construction loans if permanent financing could not be obtained. There were no liabilities required for these guarantees as of September 30, 2004, or December 31, 2003.

CIGNA had indemnification obligations to lenders up to $248 million as of September 30, 2004, and $329 million as of December 31, 2003, related to borrowings by certain real estate joint ventures, which CIGNA either records as an investment or consolidates. These borrowings, which are nonrecourse to CIGNA, are secured by the joint ventures’ real estate properties with fair values in excess of the loan amounts and mature at various dates from 2005 to 2015. CIGNA’s indemnification obligations would require payment to lenders for any actual damages resulting from certain acts such as unauthorized ownership transfers, misappropriation of rental payments by others or environmental damages. Based on initial and ongoing reviews of property management and operations, CIGNA does not expect that payments will be required under these indemnification obligations. Any payments that might be required could be recovered through a refinancing or sale of the assets. In some cases, CIGNA also has recourse to partners for their proportionate share of amounts paid. There were no liabilities required for these indemnification obligations as of September 30, 2004, or December 31, 2003.

As of September 30, 2004 and December 31, 2003, CIGNA guaranteed that it would compensate the lessor for a shortfall of up to $49 million in the market value of leased equipment at the end of the lease. Guarantees of $21 million expire in 2006 and $28 million expire in 2012. CIGNA had additional liabilities for these guarantees of $2 million as of September 30, 2004, and December 31, 2003.

CIGNA has indemnification obligations as of September 30, 2004, and December 31, 2003, in connection with acquisition and disposition transactions. These indemnification obligations are triggered by the breach of representations or covenants provided by CIGNA, such as representations for the presentation of financial statements, the filing of tax returns, compliance with law or the identification of outstanding litigation. These obligations are typically subject to various time limitations, defined by the contract or by operation of law, such as statutes of limitation. In some cases, the maximum potential amount due is subject to contractual limitations based on a percentage of the transaction purchase price, while in other cases limitations are not specified or applicable. CIGNA does not believe that it is possible to determine the maximum potential amount due under these guarantees, since not all amounts due under these indemnification obligations are subject to limitation. There were no liabilities required for these indemnification obligations as of September 30, 2004, or December 31, 2003.

CIGNA does not expect that these guarantees will have a material adverse effect on CIGNA’s consolidated results of operations, liquidity or financial condition.

55



Guaranteed minimum income benefit contracts. CIGNA's reinsurance operations, which were discontinued in 2000 and are now an inactive business in run-off mode, reinsured variable annuity contracts that provide annuitants with certain guarantees related to minimum income benefits. When annuitants elect to receive these minimum income benefits, CIGNA may be required to make payments based on changes in underlying mutual fund values and interest rates.

CIGNA estimates the fair value of the assets and liabilities associated with these contracts using assumptions as to equity market returns, volatility of the underlying equity and bond mutual fund investments, interest rates, mortality, policy surrenders, credit risk and annuity election rates. As annuitants begin to become eligible to elect their income benefit annuity in 2004 and 2005, CIGNA will monitor actual experience against its annuity election rate assumptions. The current annuity election rate assumption is that no more than 5% of the policies that CIGNA reinsures with guaranteed minimum income benefits will elect to annuitize their variable annuity contract each year. If this rate were assumed to be 10%, net income would decrease by approximately $40 million after-tax as of September 30, 2004.

CIGNA is required to disclose the maximum potential undiscounted future payments for guarantees related to minimum income benefits using worst-case assumptions, defined as follows:

·  
No annuitants surrendered their accounts; and
·  
All annuitants lived to elect their benefits; and
·  
All annuitants elected to receive their benefit on the first available date (beginning in 2004 through 2014); and
·  
All underlying mutual fund investment values remained at the September 30, 2004 value of $3.2 billion, with no future returns.

The maximum potential undiscounted payments that CIGNA would make under those assumptions would aggregate $2.0 billion before reinsurance recoveries. CIGNA believes the likelihood of such payment is remote and expects the amount of actual payments to be significantly less than this hypothetical undiscounted aggregate amount.

CIGNA had purchased reinsurance from third parties which covered 80% of the exposures on these contracts. During 2004 and 2003, CIGNA revised credit risk assumptions for one reinsurer, and in October 2004, CIGNA entered into an agreement with that reinsurer relieving them of any future obligation to CIGNA. As a result, CIGNA expects recovery of approximately 55% of the exposures on these contracts.

As of September 30, 2004, CIGNA had liabilities of $114 million related to these contracts and amounts recoverable from reinsurers of $71 million. CIGNA had an additional liability of $38 million associated with the cost of reinsurance as of September 30, 2004. As of December 31, 2003, CIGNA had liabilities of $74 million related to these contracts and amounts recoverable from reinsurers of $51 million. CIGNA had an additional liability of $40 million associated with the cost of reinsurance as of December 31, 2003. Management believes the current assumptions used to estimate reserves for these liabilities are appropriate.

Contractual obligations. As of September 30, 2004, CIGNA's contractual obligations included $53 million in nonrecourse obligations due as follows: $28 million in 2005 and 2006; and $25 million in 2007 and 2008. See Note 2 to the Financial Statements for additional information.

In addition, during the nine months of 2004:

·  
CIGNA retired approximately $76 million of long-term debt. The retired debt comprised $15 million in 8.25% notes, maturing in 2007; $9 million in 7.4% notes, maturing in 2007; $28 million in 7% notes, maturing in 2011; and $24 million in 6.375% notes, maturing in 2011;
·  
other long-term liabilities decreased by $232 million for derivatives transferred to the buyer of the retirement benefits business;
·  
CIGNA contributed $145 million to its qualified pension plans in accordance with minimum funding requirements as prescribed by ERISA. No additional contributions are expected in 2004; and

56



·  
commitments made for future net minimum rental payments under new non-cancelable operating leases beginning in 2006 through 2016 were $83 million, net of future minimum lease payments assumed by the buyer of the retirement benefits business.

INVESTMENT ASSETS 

CIGNA’s investment assets do not include separate account assets. A significant portion of CIGNA’s investment assets was attributable to experience-rated pension policyholder contracts associated with the retirement benefits business that was sold on April 1, 2004. Additional information regarding CIGNA’s investment assets and related accounting policies is included in Notes 2, 8, 9, and 10 to the Financial Statements in CIGNA’s 2003 Annual Report to Shareholders and Form 10-K.

Investments in fixed maturities (bonds) include publicly traded and privately placed debt securities, mortgage-backed and other asset-backed securities and redeemable preferred stocks. Securities that were supporting experience-rated pension policyholder contracts predominantly consisted of fixed maturities.

CIGNA’s mortgage loans are diversified by property type, location and borrower to reduce exposure to potential losses.

Problem and Potential Problem Investments

“Problem” bonds and mortgage loans are either delinquent or have been restructured as to terms (interest rate or maturity date). “Potential problem” bonds and mortgage loans are fully current, but management believes they have certain characteristics that increase the likelihood that they will become “problems.” For example, CIGNA considers mortgage loans to be potential problems if the borrower has requested restructuring, or principal or interest payments are past due by more than 30 but fewer than 60 days.

CIGNA recognizes interest income on “problem” bonds and mortgage loans only when payment is actually received because of the risk profile of the underlying investment. This resulted in lower net income of $3 million for the third quarter and $10 million for the nine months of 2004, compared to $3 million for the third quarter and $6 million for the nine months of 2003. These amounts would have been recorded if interest on problem investments had been recognized in accordance with the original terms of these investments.

The following table shows problem and potential problem bonds and mortgage loans as well as foreclosed real estate, net of valuation reserves and write-downs (including amounts attributable to experience-rated pension policyholder contracts as of December 31, 2003):

           
(In millions)
 
September 30,
2004
 
December 31,
2003
 
Problem bonds
 
$
57
 
$
132
 
Potential problem bonds
 
$
37
 
$
161
 
Problem mortgage loans
 
$
84
 
$
24
 
Potential problem mortgage loans
 
$
103
 
$
335
 
Foreclosed real estate
 
$
10
 
$
23
 
 
Foreclosed real estate includes an investment in a real estate joint venture classified in other long-term investments at September 30, 2004 and real estate held directly at December 31, 2003.

The decrease in the 2004 amounts is primarily due to reduced investment assets as a result of the sale of the retirement benefits business except for problem mortgage loans, which increased due to new delinquencies.

57



Summary

The effects of investment asset write-downs and changes in valuation reserves on CIGNA’s net income are shown below. Other includes amounts attributable to experience-rated pension policyholder contracts and modified coinsurance arrangements with the buyer of the retirement benefits business.

           
   
Three Months
Ended
September 30,
 
Nine Months
Ended
September 30,
 
(In millions)
 
2004
 
2003
 
2004
 
2003
 
CIGNA
 
$
9
 
$
39
 
$
20
 
$
65
 
Other
 
$
1
 
$
5
 
$
2
 
$
34
 

CIGNA’s portion of these losses is a component of realized investment results. The 2004 amounts attributable to policyholder contracts generally decreased because securities supporting experience-rated pension policyholder business were classified as trading beginning in October 2003 through April 1, 2004, the closing of the retirement benefits business sale.

The weakness in certain sectors of the economy and rising interest rates are likely to cause additional investment losses. These investment losses could materially affect future results of operations, although CIGNA does not currently expect them to have a material effect on its liquidity or financial condition, or to result in a significant decline in the aggregate carrying value of its assets.

MARKET RISK 

Market Risk of Financial Instruments

CIGNA’s assets and liabilities include financial instruments subject to the risk of potential losses from adverse changes in market rates and prices. The primary market risk exposures are interest rate risk, foreign currency exchange rate risk, and equity price risk.

As discussed on page 35, CIGNA sold its retirement benefits business on April 1, 2004. As a result, the effect of a hypothetical increase in interest rates of 100 basis points on the fair values of certain of CIGNA's financial instruments decreased from December 31, 2003 to approximately $1 billion as of September 30, 2004. Certain financial instruments, such as separate account assets and liabilities, reinsurance recoverables, insurance contract liabilities and reinsured contractholder deposit funds are excluded from this hypothetical calculation. In addition, CIGNA reports the effects of embedded derivatives under modified coinsurance arrangements that transfer to the buyer of the retirement benefits business certain unrealized changes in fair value due to interest rate and credit risks of the underlying invested assets, primarily fixed maturities and mortgage loans. As of September 30, 2004, a hypothetical 100 basis point decline in interest rates would decrease net income by approximately $75 million for the effects of these embedded derivatives. A hypothetical 200 basis point decline in interest rates would decrease net income by approximately $185 million for the effects of these embedded derivatives. Associated increases in the fair values of the underlying fixed maturities would be reflected in shareholders’ equity.

CIGNA uses futures and forward contracts as part of a program to substantially reduce the effect of equity market changes on certain reinsurance contracts that guarantee minimum death benefits based on unfavorable changes in variable annuity account values. The hypothetical effect of a 10% increase in the S&P 500, Russell 2000, NASDAQ, TOPIX (Japanese) and PAN-EURO equity indices and a 10% weakening in the U.S. dollar to the Japanese yen and Euro would have been a decrease of approximately $150 million in the fair value of the futures and forward contracts outstanding under this program as of September 30, 2004. A corresponding decrease in liabilities for these guaranteed minimum death benefit contracts would result from this hypothetical 10% increase in these equity indices and 10% weakening in the U.S. dollar. See Note 6 to the Financial Statements for further discussion of this program and the related guaranteed minimum death benefit contracts.

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Stock Market Performance

The performance of equity markets can have a significant effect on CIGNA’s businesses including on:
 
·  
risks and exposures associated with guaranteed minimum death benefit contracts (see page 47) and guaranteed minimum income benefit contracts (see page 56); and
·  
minimum pension liabilities since equity securities comprise a key portion of the assets of CIGNA’s employee pension plans.

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CAUTIONARY STATEMENT FOR PURPOSES OF THE “SAFE HARBOR” PROVISIONS OF THE PRIVATE SECURITIES LITIGATION REFORM ACT OF 1995

CIGNA and its representatives may from time to time make written and oral forward-looking statements, including statements contained in press releases, in CIGNA’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, in its reports to shareholders and in meetings with analysts and investors. Forward-looking statements may contain information about financial prospects, economic conditions, trends and other uncertainties. For example, this Management’s Discussion and Analysis includes forward-looking information regarding, among other things, the use of proceeds from CIGNA's sale of its retirement benefits business, CIGNA’s restructuring programs and activities, litigation and other legal matters, operational improvement in the health care operations, and the outlook for CIGNA’s full years 2004 and 2005 results. You should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. CIGNA cautions that actual results could differ materially from those that management expects, depending on the outcome of certain factors. Some factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements include:

1.  
increases in medical costs that are higher than anticipated in establishing premium rates in CIGNA’s health care operations, including increased use and costs of medical services;
2.  
increased medical, administrative, technology or other costs resulting from new legislative and regulatory requirements imposed on CIGNA’s employee benefits businesses (see Employee benefits regulation on page 38 for more information);
3.  
challenges and risks associated with implementing the improvement initiatives in the health care operations, the organizational realignment and the reduction of overall CIGNA and health care cost structure, including that operational efficiencies and medical cost benefits do not emerge as expected and that membership does not stabilize and begin to grow, resulting in significantly greater than expected reductions in medical membership;
4.  
risks associated with the amount and timing of gain recognition on the sale of CIGNA's retirement benefits business;
5.  
risks associated with pending and potential state and federal health care class action lawsuits, purported securities class action lawsuits, disputes regarding reinsurance arrangements, other litigation and regulatory actions challenging CIGNA’s businesses and the outcome of pending government proceedings;
6.  
heightened competition, particularly price competition, which could reduce product margins and constrain growth in CIGNA’s businesses, primarily the health care business;
7.  
significantly greater than expected reductions in medical membership;
8.  
significant changes in interest rates;
9.  
downgrades in the financial strength ratings of CIGNA’s insurance subsidiaries, which could, among other things, adversely affect new sales and retention of current business;
10.  
limitations on the ability of CIGNA's insurance subsidiaries to dividend capital to the parent company as a result of downgrades in the subsidiaries’ financial strength ratings, changes in statutory reserve or capital requirements or other financial constraints;
11.  
inability of the program adopted by CIGNA to substantially reduce equity market risks for reinsurance contracts that guarantee minimum death benefits under certain variable annuities (including possible market difficulties in entering into appropriate futures and forward contracts and in matching such contracts to the underlying equity risk);
12.  
adjustments to the reserve assumptions and other considerations (including lapse, partial surrender, mortality, interest rates and volatility) used in estimating CIGNA's liabilities for reinsurance contracts that guarantee minimum death benefits under certain variable annuities;
13.  
adjustments to the assumptions (including annuity election rates and reinsurance recoverables) used in estimating CIGNA’s assets and liabilities for reinsurance contracts that guarantee minimum income benefits under certain variable annuities;

60



14.  
significant stock market declines, which could, among other things, result in increased pension expenses in CIGNA’s pension plan in future periods and the recognition of additional pension obligations;
15.  
unfavorable claims experience related to workers’ compensation and personal accident exposures of the run-off reinsurance business, including losses attributable to the inability to recover claims from retrocessionaires;
16.  
significant deterioration in economic conditions, which could have an adverse effect on CIGNA’s operations and investments; and
17.  
changes in federal income tax laws.

This list of important factors is not intended to be exhaustive. There may be other risk factors that would preclude CIGNA from realizing the forward-looking statements. While CIGNA may periodically update this discussion of risk factors, CIGNA does not undertake to update any forward-looking statement that may be made by or on behalf of CIGNA prior to its next required filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Item 4.  Controls and Procedures

Based on an evaluation of the effectiveness of CIGNA’s disclosure controls and procedures, CIGNA’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that, as of the end of the period covered by this report, CIGNA’s disclosure controls and procedures are effective to ensure that information required to be disclosed by CIGNA in the reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported, within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms. In making this evaluation, CIGNA has considered matters relating to its restatement of previously issued financial statements for the periods covered by this report, including the process that was undertaken to ensure that all material adjustments necessary to correct the previously issued financial statements were recorded.

As set forth in Note 4 to the Financial Statements, CIGNA restated its financial statements for the periods covered by this report. The restatement resulted from a deficiency that CIGNA identified in its internal controls over management stock compensation processes. CIGNA has remediated the deficiency by implementing corrective actions to its internal controls over these processes.

There have been no changes in CIGNA’s internal control over financial reporting identified in connection with the evaluation described in the above paragraph that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, CIGNA’s internal control over financial reporting.

PART II. OTHER INFORMATION


Item 6. Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K.

(a) See Exhibit Index.



61


SIGNATURE


Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.


 
CIGNA CORPORATION
     
 
By:
/s/ Michael W. Bell
   
Michael W. Bell
   
Executive Vice President and
   
Chief Financial Officer
 
   
Date: February 24, 2005
   






62






Exhibit Index

Number
Description
Method of Filing
     
12
Computation of Ratios of Earnings
Filed herewith.
 
to Fixed Charges
 
     
31.1
Certification of Chief Executive Officer
Filed herewith.
 
of CIGNA Corporation pursuant to
 
 
Rule 13a-14(a) or Rule 15d-14(a)
 
 
of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
 
     
31.2
Certification of Chief Financial Officer
Filed herewith.
 
of CIGNA Corporation pursuant to
 
 
Rule 13a-14(a) or Rule 15d-14(a)
 
 
of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
 
     
32.1
Certification of Chief Executive Officer
Furnished herewith.
 
of CIGNA Corporation pursuant to Rule
 
 
13a-14(b) or Rule 15d-14(b) and 18
 
 
U.S.C. Section 1350
 
     
32.2
Certification of Chief Financial Officer
Furnished herewith.
 
of CIGNA Corporation pursuant to Rule
 
 
13a-14(b) or Rule 15d-14(b) and 18
 
 
U.S.C. Section 1350
 


E-1